Revolver Upstairs
Revolver Upstairs, known locally as 'Revolver' or 'Revs', is a live music bar and nightclub located on Chapel St, Prahan in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Revs, Revolver | |
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| Address | 229 Chapel Street, Prahran Melbourne Australia |
|---|---|
| Website | |
| https://revolverupstairs.com.au | |
The venue regularly hosts performances from electronic music artists, especially the techno scene.[1]
It is one of Australia's most famous nightclubs. The venue is in-part known for its 24-hour weekend license,[1] and so is notorious as a common location for a 'weekend bender'; with 72-hour continuous benders being a feature of urban legend about the venue.[2][3] Ordinarily, the music is interrupted during Saturday midday to operate as a Thai restaurant; after which it operates continuously until Monday morning.[4]
Revs is a somewhat notorious venue in popular culture, in part due to rumours surrounding what occurs inside the club.[3] Some of these rumours are disputed by the venue's managers as urban myth, and Vice has reported that the rumours are inaccurate.[2][3]
Description
The interior of the venue has been described as 'eclectic', and is fitted with vintage furniture. It 'lacks conventional dance floor space'.[2]
Crowd demographics have been discussed as an important issue by the venue managers in interviews. In a 2021 interview, they were quoted as saying: "In the early days, it was easier because a lot of interesting people were coming. But then once the hype about it being open on the weekend and all the stories started to emerge, it did attract a lot of dickheads. And keeping them out is a full-time job".[2]
The venue regularly attracts notable artists and DJs to perform. Some of its more notable past performances include Fatboy Slim, Architecture in Helsinki, Bicep, Blackalicious, and The Avalanches.[5][3]
During the week, and during the midday on Saturday, the venue is converted into a Thai restaurant called Colonel Tan's. The restaurant has received moderately favourable reviews from The Age.[6]
History and operations
The business 'Revolver' was created by Thai pop star Tan Punturaumporn and a Melbournite venue manager Camillo Ippoliti. Camilo had previously been a venue manager at the now-defunct Cookie, and The Toff In Town.[2]
Initially the bottom floor was renovated from a former parachute factory, and became a business known as 'Revolver Music Gallery'. Later, an associate recommended that Camillo convert the upstairs level into a music venue, this became 'Revolver Upstairs'.[2]
While the venue's staff claim that the venue is intended to be a community centre for music, arts, and culture; they have conceded in interviews that this doesn't match its public perception.[2]
References
- Martin, Kaya (2023-02-01). "The best nightclubs in Melbourne". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- "The inside story of Revolver Upstairs nightclub". Stoney Roads | Latest News in Electronic and Dance Music. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- Richards, Arielle (2022-07-21). "An Oral History of Revolver, Melbourne's Most Famous Night Club". Vice. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- "Home". REVOLVER UPSTAIRS - Bar, Thai Restaurant, Nightclub, Live Music, Arts. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- "Our History". REVOLVER UPSTAIRS - Bar, Thai Restaurant, Nightclub, Live Music, Arts. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
- Rousseau, Nina (2010-01-12). "Colonel Tan's". The Age. Retrieved 2023-06-07.