It feels like there’s almost always fresh news about an Aussie live music venue, just last week we reported on three venues, including a nightlife institution, that would be shutting up shop this year – however today, we’ve got much better news.

Despite the fact that Melbourne’s home of jazz at Bennetts Lane will close on Monday 15 June, owner Michael Tortoni has confirmed that two brand-spankin’ new houses of live music will open within Melbourne, as Fairfax reports.

The first new live music venue will open up in the Victorian capital’s CBD on Flinders Lane, in which Tortoni hinted would be “a really nice space for jazz”.

In addition to this, Tortoni who himself is a jazz musician as well as the artistic director of Melbourne’s International Jazz Festival, will own and operate a funky new music space in the inner north of Brunswick, said to be situated on Leslie Street, Tortoni noting that it should be open “probably early next year”.

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Although it definitely does suck that Bennetts will close after 23 years of live music, it is exciting to see that two new venues will swing open their doors, providing a platform for both established and up-and-coming musicians.

This is yet another win for Victoria’s live music scene, last week a major game-changer was announced by the state government that will provide much needed funding to help better many venues across the state.

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