The Bearded Lady – Beardo to her friends – is a West End institution. It’s cozy 120 capacity space has played host to acts from across Australia and beyond, from live music to poetry slams, and life drawing classes to burlesque.
But, like so many other small venues across the country, The Bearded Lady is struggling.
With operational costs rising and more and more people choosing to stay at home and save what little money they can, it’s getting harder and harder for Jamie Simmonds and the rest of Beardo’s team to keep the doors open. But the old girl isn’t going down without a fight.
Yesterday, with a little help from the team at Ballpoint Press, Simmonds launched a GoFundMe to help keep the space alive, appealing to the community that The Bearded Lady has served so well over the last decade to spare a little cash – or at least a quick share to their socials.
Announcing the GoFundMe, The Bearded Lady team said:
“We’re at a point where we need help from the one group of people we know truly care about this venue and the music scene — you.
Every little bit helps. Whether it’s donating, sharing this campaign, or even just sending us your positive energy, we’d love for you to be a part of this next chapter. ‘The Beardo’ has always been a space for connection, creativity, and community, and we’re not ready to let it go.”
The goal is a hefty $200k, which will go towards paying off existing debts and making some improvements to the venue, including upgrading facilities and expanding the floor space. This clearly is about more than just keeping the doors open temporarily – it’s about securing the future of a Brisbane icon for years to come. And as loud supporters of Aussie acts and the venues that showcase them, we here at The AU Review can certainly get behind that.
For anyone with the means to do so, you can donate to the GoFundMe HERE. And if you live in Brisbane and you’ve never visited The Bearded Lady, now’s a great time to change that – check out their upcoming gig guide HERE or just swing by for a beer and some good vibes.
The Bearded Lady is located at 138 Boundary St, West End, Brisbane, and is open Wednesday to Sunday. Check out their website, Facebook, and Instagram for up to date hours and event listings.
