General News
27 March, 2026
Call out for young musicians
An inundation of music performances at Maryborough’s Park Hotel is gaining momentum, in an effort to give the town’s main road a sample of nightlife again.
On any given weekend on the Goldfields, Park Hotel’s venue manager Clancy Stratford felt the options for a night out feel limited for younger demographics.
“There is nothing really socially for young people to do at night on the weekends around Maryborough,” he said.
This establishment wants to change that.
“Twenty years ago, there was a pub on every corner and a nightclub. We want to bring some energy and life back into the town for young people so they can have fun without having to go over to Bendigo, Ballarat or Melbourne,” Mr Stratford said.
Back in October last year, the pub began to ramp up live music performances throughout the building.
The venue has been in the process of incorporating regular karaoke nights, open mic nights and a house band to revamp the establishment and inject some noise and light into the town’s quiet nightfall.
“We started doing live music back around October last year to give Maryborough something to do on the weekend and bring some life back into the town, it started every second Sunday afternoon and over the last few months, thanks to the help and support we have gotten from local musicians and the response we have got from our patrons, we have gradually been building it up,” he said.
“Open mic’s on the last Saturday of every month is the perfect chance for any up and coming musicians to come and play for their first time to a friendly, receptive and appreciative crowd without any pressure, or for anyone else that’s passionate about music and wants to meet other musicians and have a great time jamming out,” Mr Stratford said.
“The karaoke nights are an absolute blast, we have a proper karaoke company called Absolute Karaoke that runs the events for us and they are so much fun.”
Additionally, the venue want to give a shot at something they feel lacks in regional communities, a chance for talented young music producers to perform their work locally.
“We are also going to try getting some young local DJ’s in and give them their first proper gig at a venue to kick start their careers. Some times there is so little on. It is clear as day. If you talk to older people, they’ll say ‘back in my day, there used to be a night club open until 3 am’,” Mr Stratford said.
Also recently making the venue dog friendly, Mr Stratford said regardless of if people are drawn by musical performances on an afternoon, or influxes of people sweep their beer garden after dark, maintaining a social outlet is fundamental.
“It’s about keeping friendships, being a community, and to be around each other instead of all being at home. Get everyone out socialising and interacting with each other and supporting each other,” he said.
“If we can build a community around a pub, the pub will be successful.”
Following recent positive feedback, the venue has a rotation of live music every Sunday and every second Friday and a DJ and open mic once a month.
“Community building is one of our main goals, if we can build a good supportive community around the pub that helps us. It also helps everyone when people are supporting and looking out for each other, some people don’t have that in their personal lives so we have been trying to create a place for people a place to come, make friends and have a good time together,” Mr Startford said.
Park Hotel’s Lachy Neale said the move also comes down to supporting local musicians.
“There are so many local musos, we give them a go. It spreads the love. Music days are getting bigger and bigger every week ... it’s good for the community, gets everyone out there,” he said.
For members of the community who are less interested in dancing all night under the strobe lights, Park Hotel will also be offering free coffees this Sunday morning, March 29 between 11:30 am to 1 pm.