The Tramway - Cairns live music

Hope on the horizon for the live music scene in Cairns

At last, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for musicians and music lovers alike with the opening of a new venue dedicated to pursing the musical roots of Far North Queensland. With live music venues around Far North Queensland shutting their doors, the music scene in Cairns has been far from lively of late. Musicians have found themselves at a loss for a place to perform, and unless they’ve got a repertoire of prepared covers material, bands have ended up getting less and less gigs. Outlets for original musicians have diminished, and with the closure of the iconic Johnos Blues Bar and Inbox Café in 2007, it looked as if the era for live music in Cairns was coming to a certain end.

The Tramway, based at the backroom of the Cape York Hotel, is geared as the latest venue in the region designed to help local and national touring musicians get more gigs in Cairns – bringing music back to the North. Run by HiFly Production House, The Tramway is a result of many months of research by business owner Cameron Kennedy. Working closely with numerous local bands, the local promoter saw an immense gap in the industry for live venues and a space to promote original music. Having previously run the successful entertainment at the Barrier Reef Hotel, Cameron says the new venue will have a similar fun vibe. “We are giving the backroom a bit of a face lift,” he says, “with a new stage and a permanent PA in place. The Tramway will focus on the local scene as well as doing shows with some national and international artists.” Just some of the national artists already booked for the prime spot include The Resin Dogs and The Bionics (featuring Danielle Moore of Crazy Penis) from the UK.

HiFly Production House is a Cairns-based music business and has strong affiliations with the Far North Queensland community. Cameron has been responsible for working some of the largest gigs in the region, and has brought up notable performers to various venues around Cairns including Ash Grunwald and Chuck Love. Re-branding the backroom of the Cape York Hotel as The Tramway was a case of embedding the venue’s history in Cairns and securing HiFly Production House’s business growth in the region. Cameron says the Cape York Hotel was originally called The Tramway from 1898 to 1932 before it went through series of name changes, the last of which being in the mid-1980s to its current title. The new look venue will embody the spirit of Far North Queensland while creating a place for musicians and audiences alike to enjoy a quality and calibre of entertainment that is befitting of a metropolitan centre.

The Tramway opened on Saturday the 1st March at 8pm. The Opening night lineup included For An Ocassion (punk, rock), Definite Article and DJ Morphix (Oz Hip Hop) and DJ Sets from Fred Cuzon, The Doctor and Clarence Q.

For media enquiries or more information on The Tramway, contact Cameron Kennedy at HiFly Production House on (07) 4041 0333 / 0404 375 688 or email cameronkennedy@hifly.com.au