In the latest instance of the crackdown on licensed venues in Sydney, a club has reportedly been ordered to stop playing amplified music after 3 a.m. by licensing authorities.
SLYFOX, in the inner-city suburb of Enmore, is well outside the 1:30 a.m. lockout zone that affects venues in the city's central business district and has held a 24-hour licence "with no issues" since the 1980s.
The news of the sound ban came from longtime Sydney DJ Mark Dynamix, who is running the house music night, "Jack The House," on Friday night.
Dynamix posted on the Facebook event page on Friday claiming that organisers were only told of the music ban "hours ago," however he noted the venue is allowed to stay open and serve alcohol.
"We will have to turn the music off at 3 a.m.," Dynamix wrote in his post. "We are very sorry, but our hands are tied. We are as angry and frustrated by the situation as you."
Doors will be opening an hour earlier than the planned time at 9 p.m., with Dynamix encouraging punters to instead bring along their tambourines and guitars to "sing your favourite house tunes," although it would be more appropriate for them to sing "Kumbaya."
It may be a smart move. Many people would probably pay good money to see a bunch of regulars play Armand Van Helden's "Don't You Know Me" with acoustic instruments.
The Sydney lockout laws, which stop people entering venues in the city after 1:30 a.m., ban the sale of alcohol from bottle shops after 10 p.m. and drinking in bars after 3 a.m., have been a huge point of controversy among the youth of the city in recent weeks. A protest against what many consider over-regulation is planned for Sunday, with more than 10,000 people expected to attend.
You can read the message posted by Dynamix in full below:
IT IS WITH SOME FRUSTRATION THAT WE HERE AT JACK THE HOUSE MUST REPORT THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT CLIMATE RE: LOCKOUTS & HEAVY HANDED TACTICS AGAINST THE VENUE THIS WEEK BY THE NSW LICENSING AUTHORITIES, THE SLY FOX HOTEL HAVE LITERALLY JUST BEEN TOLD HOURS AGO BY THE LICENSING POLICE, THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO CEASE PLAYING ANY AMPLIFIED MUSIC AFTER 3AM. IRONICALLY, THE SLY FOX IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TRADING AND SERVE ALCOHOL PAST 3AM BUT AS OF MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THE VENUE IS UNDER ORDER TO CUT OFF ANY AMPLIFIED MUSIC OF ANY KIND PAST 3AM.
THE VENUE OWNERS AND MYSELF, THE PROMOTER OF JACK THE HOUSE WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY APOLOGISE FOR THIS OPPRESSIVE TACTIC DESIGNED TO BRING US IN LINE WITH OTHER VENUES IN SYDNEY (APART FROM THE CASINO). THE SLY FOX HAS TRADED UNTIL 6AM SINCE THE 1980’S WITH A 24-HOUR LICENSE WITH NO ISSUES. WE WILL HAVE TO TURN THE MUSIC OFF AT 3AM, WE ARE VERY SORRY BUT OUR HANDS OUR TIED. WE ARE AS ANGRY & FRUSTRATED BY THE SITUATION AS YOU. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO TAKE YOUR ANGER AND FRUSTRATION TO THE “KEEP SYDNEY OPEN” RALLY ON SUNDAY AND THE “RECLAIM THE STREETS” RALLY ON MARCH 19TH.
TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST TIME IN THE MORNING, WE WILL BE OPENING THE DOORS NOW AT 8PM INSTEAD OF 9PM. THE VENUE HAS ALSO KINDLY OFFERED UNLIMITED $10 COCKTAILS FROM 8-10PM.
SINCE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY ANY AMPLIFIED MUSIC AFTER 3AM, YET ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN AND SELL ALCOHOL, YOU ARE INVITED TO BRING A GUITAR AND A TAMBORINE AND SING YOUR FAVOURITE CLASSIC HOUSE TUNES THROUGH UNTIL CLOSE, WITH BEER IN HAND (WITHOUT MICROPHONES – THAT’S THE LAW). THAT IS HOW RIDICULOUS THE SITUATION IS IN THIS CITY.
The SLYFOX posted on their Facebook page on Friday evening, saying that they had been notified that they were not to "play amplified or loud music" after 3 a.m., otherwise they would face hefty fines.
A NSW Police spokesperson told Mashable Australia in a statement via email:
Police recently advised a licensed venue on Enmore Road, Enmore, of the need to comply with long-standing noise restrictions.
As they do in all other locations throughout the state, NSW Police officers enforce licensing restrictions in Newtown.
Newtown Police have strong relationships with the vast majority of local licensed venues and work closely with venue managers and staff on a frequent basis.
While most bars, pubs and restaurants run their businesses in accordance with the regulations, any venues that operate outside the rules can expect to be visited by police.
Mashable Australia has contacted Mark Dynamix and the SLYFOX for comment.
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