A year above ground: Sydney live music venue 505

It started as an illegal Elizabeth St. music venue run by two struggling artists. But a year ago 505 found a new home in Surry Hills, and it was legit. 

The operators of the former underground space at 505 Elizabeth St. rose above the ground to 280 Cleveland St. But they still call themselves 505. 

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The days of hundreds of people climbing stairs into the 100-capacity theater are gone, and 505 is celebrating its first (legal) anniversary. 

Their clientele had mixed feelings about buying beer at a bar, instead of bringing their own brown paper bag. Grungy types complained about sitting in a chair -- not on wooden floorboards or cushions. 

But such is the movement in Sydney after the relaxing of liquor laws and abolishing of entertainment restrictions. The co-founder of 505, Kerri Glasscock, even spoke at NSW Parliament on this need.

“We had always hoped we could take 505 out from the underground,” said Glasscock. “We never intentionally went out of our way to break the law.” 

Yeah, we know, your friends made you do it.

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But we’ll go easy on Glassock and her partner, Cameron Undy, as they have two kids now and have a rack of bills to pay each month.

Now, they’re curating live music six nights a week. They mix jazz, roots, reggae, funk and soul.

505 gigs to watch out for 

Tuesday, March 29: Sandy Evans Trio, Coffin Bros

Thursday, March 31: Victor Valdes

Monday, April 4: Piano prodigy Ambre Hammound accompanied by Tom Ward's guitar

Wednesday, April 20: The Carl Morgan Quintet 

Saturday, April 30: Tina Harrod

505, 280 Cleveland St., www.venue505.com, venue505@mac.com