Family Nightclub will close its doors for the final time tomorrow night.
Brisbane's one-time superclub opened its doors on 13th July 2001, and over the course of 16 years played host to a who's who of international electronic acts, in the process creating some of the city’s most memorable nights out.
When international headliners The Crystal Method played in July 2004, it precipitated another of Family's intense dancefloors with punters crammed against the walls as clubbers took over every square inch of the venue's floor. This was a Thursday night event, a decade prior to Thursday night becoming the new Friday night.
Cosmo Cater, then this company's staff writer, DJ and now semi-respectable lawyer told scenestr, "Family enjoyed an esteemed life and at several times during its history has been comfortably rated as Australia’s best nightclub.
"Family envisaged nightclubbing on a much grander scale than ever before, and therefore its genesis at the turn of the millennium was superbly timed to take advantage of the explosion in dance music and super clubs. The level of detail in the initial fit-out was amazing, and almost everyone who set foot in the club during those first few years was blown away.
"The fact that this club was in Brisbane, rather than Sydney or Melbourne, was a feat in itself, and Family’s heyday saw Brisbane also come alive as a cultural city. Family was a 'statement piece' like no other.
"Over the years, Family hosted the best of the best. World class DJs and live acts all came away speaking internationally about the quality of their experience in Brisbane. Locally, stars were born in that DJ booth and the list of interstate names that were lusting to play at the club was ridiculous. There have been many 'best nights ever' at the venue and countless lasting friendships, relationships and business partnerships forged.
"Personally, I feel privileged to have attended fantastic nights both as a punter and then to step into the hallowed DJ booth in that incredible main room. It's a new era - but we should take a minute to remember what incredibly wild times were had, and how the venue was so iconic that it became an integral part of Brisbane’s cultural fabric. Goodbye Family."
Family's opening night announcement advertisement appeared in scenestr (then under the moniker of Scene Magazine). That issue featured Basement Jaxx on the cover alongside ads from Alex K, Tricky, Krafty Kutz, Bali Advent*jah, System 6, Flares, Mantra, The Monstery, DJ Technics World Championships, Berlin Bar, Hotel Orient, Fridays, The Irish Club and Café Scene.
Harry Katsenavas (Harry K) was a DJ on the opening night and has been associated with the club ever since as a promoter and in particular the successful Fluffy Sunday nights. “I've had the privilege of being a part of The Family since the beginning. It revolutionised the clubbing landscape in Brisbane and paved the way for a nightlife revolution in this city," Mr Katsanevas said.
He will be a part of the team aiming to breathe new life into the venue, which will be rebranded as EI8HT (8 McLachlan Street) on 17th June. EI8HT will celebrate both the old and the new – the figure eight within the logo retains the design element of Family's logo – EI8HT will launch with two distinct club nights: ‘ONE’ on Saturdays while retaining ‘Fluffy’ on Sundays.
Editor's Note:
If your browser can stand it (view Flash), you can read back issues of scenestr, aka Scene Magazine, back to 2008 via the 'scenestr mag' menu on this site. 2017 onwards doesn't require Flash ;-)
