When Fortitude Valley institution The Zoo closed in July after 32 years of operation, Brisbane music lovers were left crestfallen. The long-running venue was the beating heart of Brisbane’s live-music scene – a breeding ground for local talent that also hosted countless tours from domestic and international artists. In news that will put a pep back in the step of gig-going punters, Trad Nathan and Tyla Dombroski of renowned indie venue Crowbar are taking over the site, turning it into the new home of Crowbar Brisbane. For the uninitiated, Crowbar first opened in Brisbane in 2012 and quickly earned a reputation for championing alternative, punk and heavy music. While the original location closed in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trad and Tyla jumped at the chance to revive Crowbar in The Zoo’s storied Ann Street space, preserving The Zoo’s rich history while invigorating the venue with Crowbar’s crackling energy, artist-driven ethos and inclusivity values. Melbourne artist Callum Preston is leading a rebrand effort across Crowbar Brisbane and Sydney (which opened in 2018), instilling a refreshed visual identity across both locations. The Zoo’s on-site kitchen will house Crowbar’s own American-inspired restaurant Ultimate Pig, which will dispense a menu of smash burgers, barbecued morsels, fried chicken and vegan- and vegetarian-friendly eats. While no opening date has been announced, rest assured we’ll have more info for you as soon as it is revealed.