The Eureka is coming back – and just in time for summer. Forté chat to the organiser Jordan Thulborn.
Hey Jordan, thanks for taking the time to chat with us, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?
Hey guys thanks for getting in touch. Things have been busy but getting ready for what is set to be an exciting Summer. We are in the process of bringing downstairs of The Eureka back to life.
So we hear things are changing up at Hashtag/Eureka, can you tell us a bit about what Flashback Fridays are all about?
After the success of Oktoberfest and seeing the venue at it’s full potential we decided it was time to get cracking to get a regular thing happening over summer for the locals. The nightclub will still be upstairs but more so used for functions and our new monthly Saturday night Sea Horse, but downstairs will be open Thursday through to Saturday.
And what sparked the idea to put this all together?
Many conversations about The Eureka back in the day and hearing that bands such as Hunters and Collectors, INXS and Cold Chisel have graced the stage. Speaking with a lot of locals around town everyone seemed to have a story about the venue, so I wanted to bring that back for people.
There have been whispers it’s a bit of a return to the Eureka we know and love, will that be the case? What can we see coming back?
Correct. We want to give the people of Geelong the Eureka they know and love. The pool table is the first thing that has returned, along with meals coming from the kitchen. Cover bands used to grace the venue from Thursday to Saturday so this is something punters can expect to see again.
While we’re getting nostalgic, what’s your favourite memory from Eureka’s history?
One of my first memories of The Eureka was when Blue Juice played a show on the main stage. This is actually one of the reasons – for the passion – to get this happening again.
People may have noticed the downstairs area of the venue was a bit quiet, what kind of vibe can the whole venue expect to have over summer?
People can expect The Eureka as they all know it – as a pub and live entertainment venue. Food will cover all the basic quick snacks and meals to share while enjoying an evening out. The open-air roof spaces will also help create an outdoor atmosphere, while still being at the bar and enjoying entertainment.
In terms of bands, will the focus mostly be on local acts or are there plans to get touring acts as well?
We will be having local bands on the weekly. Young cover band The Hollow will be playing through until the new year, with a mix of acoustic musicians on Fridays. Touring acts are also a big focus for the venue with some big names coming in 2017!
Lastly, we’re all about evolving here at Forté. What else has Hashtag/Eureka got planned?
Lots of things are in the works, but the aim is to get the venue working as a multi-level entertainment plaza. Live music, food, functions and work break ups, along with the nightclub upstairs for big events – you can expect a bit of everything to come.
When & Where: Fridays @ Hashtag/Eureka is located at 98 Little Malop St, Geelong.
