Say Farewell To The Cambridge Hotel With This Three-Day Music Festival

The beloved New South Wales venue, The Cambridge Hotel, recently revealed that it would close its doors for good.

Last year the venue's owners revealed that the NSW space would be shutting its doors to live music once its lease expired this June, with developers eying it for inner-city student accommodation.

At the time, the team behind the beloved space said they would be “looking at all options” to ensure “the live music scene is still supported”.

After teasing an “epic” roster of artists to end the Cambridge’s run in style, today, the organisers have detailed that the venue is going out with a three-day music festival. Talk about going out with a bang.

The Cambridge Hotel Farewell Festival is shutting down the street and will run three events across three days on Friday, 23, Saturday, 24 and Sunday, 25 June, with headliners Illy, Peking Duk, and Grinspoon. 

The Friday is a hip-hop extravaganza led by Illy, as well as legends 360 and Drapht, and fresh-faced hip-hop stars JK-47 and Triple One, who will help bring The Cambridge Hotel's house lights down. 

The following day is electronic/indie music-based, with Peking Duk leading the proceedings. The Rubens, Boo Seeka, Northeast Party House, and Adam Newling will accompany the duo.

Lastly, Sunday is the day for rock fans, with grunge gods Grinspoon playing the last-ever show at The Cambridge Hotel. They take the stage after a huge roster of rock legends, including The Smith Street Band, Dune Rats, British India, and up-and-comers Hope D and The Hard Aches.

The three-day lineup will round off 50 years of local and international stars, including Silverchair, The Presets, The Black Keys, and The Buzzcocks. 

The Cambridge Farewell is an 18+ event that will take place on two stages, indoors and outdoors.

Tickets go on sale next Tuesday, 28 March. Sign up for pre-sale tickets here.

Last year’s announcement that operators were hoping to keep the venue alive was met with overwhelming support from punters and artists.

Phil Jamieson shared his early experiences at the venue, stating, “I’ll be there when the doors close.”

“I’ve been coming to your venue as a punter since I was 15 years old,” Jamieson said. “My first show was Tumbleweed & The Meanies standing outside peering through a chain link fence cause I was underage. Grinspoon have played many shows there and I’ve done a bunch of solo stuff there as well.”

Developer Linkcity’s multi-million-dollar redevelopment does not include a licensed venue as they deem it an ‘unsafe’ addition to student accommodation.