Hi-Fi Bar & Ballroom

Love the Hi-​fi. Although it can be a little crazy when seeing a sold out show, you can still usually find somewhere to perch yourself to catch the show — especially important when your sig-​other is somewhat height deprived! Sound is usually excellent.
Only catch is that one time we went to see a piano based rock musician from the States, and because of the subterranean lay-​out of the place, his piano couldn’t fit in and so he suddenly became an 80^th synth rocker on the keys. Oops!
Actually there is one real improvement they could work on — updating patrons on set list times via social media. They’re notoriously cagey about giving this info out here for some reason. While seeing support acts should be encouraged and can sometimes be very rewarding, the reality is sometimes you’re just pushed for time and need to know the deets — and the cynic in me cant help but think it’s just to trick you into coming in early to spend more on booze.
That old man gripe aside, love the Hi-​fi.

The first time I visited this music institution was to see some local bands in a competition. Over the years I have seen everyone from unknown high school bands to some of the largest bands in the world play here an no matter who is playing they always get a great crowd. The HIFI looks small from its tiny doorway leading down a few flights of steps but once you get inside you will see how appearances can be misleading. The place is huge with a nice large stage, a decent bar and some great live bands. Mainly known as a rock venue the place can become a club with electro too on certain nights. Well worth checking out when a band you like is playing!

The Hi-​Fi is one of my favourite venues to catch a gig at in Melbourne. It’s small enough to feel intimate but big enough to draw a decent sized crowd.
The sound in here is great and the layout of the venue makes it easy enough to get a good view of the stage from numerous spots. It’s usually pretty easy to get up to the front of the stage… just watch out for those stairs! There is a pit directly in front of the stag that lets you stand back a little and you’ll still have a perfect view. There’s also a balcony area where you can take a seat and soak everything in from above.
There are two bars here, one down on the stage level and another in the balcony. Both serve the same thing, are over priced and have a pretty poor selection, but that is usually to be expected in a venue like this.

Not too big, not too small. Loud. Sweaty. All good things for a raucous rock show.
There’s plenty of floor space, but no worries if you’re stuck in the back or lingering around the bar. The back section is raised above the front floor, so you’ll still be able to see everything. Big plus. There’s also the balcony for lovers of the birds eye view.
Drinks are expectedly overpriced, but the central location means plenty of places in the near vicinity to grab a few before your show.

When I visit other music venues and get stuck behind giant pillars, get distorted sound or get forced into sitting in a seat with no bar in sight — I realise how great The Hi-​Fi is as a venue. It’s like the little bear’s porridge in Goldilocks; not too big, not too small, it’s juuust right.
I’ve seen some great acts here and probably frequent the venue more than any other live music space in Melbourne. Never a disappointment.

Ever since I started working in the building that the Hi-​Fi is the basement of, the novelty of live music here has worn off (ever slightly so) when you can hear bands practicing, five floors up.
That aside, it’s just one of those odd venues that I like (because the music is good) but I’ve never really gotten. It’s also a weird array of acts, I’ve seen both Bön Iver (his first Australian show) and Atmosphere (hip hop, yes, stop judging) here.
Also. What is up with no passouts?! I work in the building*!
*I don’t actually think that alone will get me anywhere.

Situated across the road from the townhall on Swanston Street, Hi-​Fi Bar is arguably one of Melbourne’s most understated live venues that caters to both local and international acts and other live entertainment such as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
I went to see a friend of a friend’s band in the ballroom and had a quality time. The sound really echoed around the venue and the 2 – 300 people had a rip-​snorter of a night. I’m a fan; it pays to keep up to date with whichever performer is up next.

The Hi-​Fi serves a function as one of Melbourne’s great medium/​large band rooms and they are dedicated to showcasing why Melbourne’s rock scene is so great. The beauty of the size of the room is that it’s large enough to house travelling international artists (often requiring multiple smaller shows) but it’s also a good size for local bands with decent fan bases to launch albums and the like.
The set up here is ideal. It’s basically a square room with a great line-​array speaker set up at the side of stage and a bar at the back. There is an enclosed area upstairs that is a bit weird, but can be good if you’re not diggin’ the music so much. Having the bar at the back allows punters to really get into the music without the distraction of booze vending and associated chatter. I’ve always found the sound quality to be awesome here, though a few of my sound nerd friends will differ on that. Where the place falls down is (typically) in drink selection, staff attitude and prices. Still, it’s a great room and it really plays a vital role in the music community here. Hoorah!

One of Melbourne’s leading medium-​sized live music venues showcasing international bands and entertainers. I’ve lost count of how many bands I’ve seen here, but the Hi Fi seem to all manner of music acts that I like so I’m a rather big fan of theirs.
As a vertically challenged lover of live music, going to a gig is always slightly traumatic — the experience of finding a great spot where I can see more than just the top of the lead singer’s head, then having two large men (and let’s face it, sometimes women) stand in front of me just as the gig is about to begin is very discouraging and also kind of makes me feel like I don’t really exist (cue massive philosophical angst, at the start of a gig no less, not good). At the Hi Fi however, as long as I arrive early enough, I can usually find a position near the stage, at the top of the steps leading down to the dancefloor area, where every single band member and their instruments are there for my eyeballing.
The other great thing about the Hi Fi is that the sound in there is generally really good. Obviously this is dependent on the band’s sound person too, but the set up and layout of the Hi Fi makes for good listening, so even if my goal is to find a good viewing position, I don’t have to skimp on sound. Pretty perfect for a live gig venue for short-​arses like myself.
Almost forgot to mention the upper deck. It’s great for a slightly more chilled-​out experience of seeing the band. There are seats upstairs, it’s usually less crowded and there’s a bigger bar (so bizarre and cruel — the larger bar is upstairs in the smaller area whilst the downstairs bar is tiny and always rammed with sweaty punters) so if downstairs gets to be too much, it’s a nice area to escape to (bear in mind, sometimes the upstairs bit is a restricted area).
p. s. it’s hard to capture opening hours for the Hi Fi. There are usually gigs booked Wednesday to Sunday with the occasional act booked for Monday nights. Doors usually open from 8pm but sometimes earlier (around 4pm) for under 18’s gigs.

Something wonderful happens to the HiFi Bar and Ballroom when the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on. It becomes the festival hub and you can catch a huge amount of hilarious established and up and coming comedians.
Apart from that, all year round it’s a live venue for a number of great bands. More often than not side shows for the bands that are rolling into town on the back of a festival. I’ve seen TV on the Radio in 42 degree weather, the Black Keys when Dan Auerbach still had a beard and some English band that had one song and my friend had won tickets to.
The HiFi isn’t really talked up that much, but a lot of premium bands and comedians come through these doors.
The bar is a little awkward and hard to get a drink at. It basically needs to be bigger and easier to get to. If you’re upstairs in the VIP area you’re fine. So try to be ritzy or sneaky and find a way to wiggle in. Air conditioning would make a big difference too!
I have a lot of good memories here, mostly to do with what’s happening on the stage. That’s the point, right?

One of Melbourne’s greatest live venues, the Hi-​Fi Bar and Ballroom is used extensively during the International Comedy Festival and has played host to acts ranging from local talent to international superstars and spoken word performers. Although the main dance floor area has a bar behind it and a huge space for average punters, the upstairs, largely soundproof glass bar that overlooks it is by far the best place to have a drink, chat and catch up with friends. Although located at the bottom of a steep set of stairs exiting out onto Swanston Street, the venue is massive with an interconnected series of staircases linking the glass viewing bar with the main floor below. Excellent for live bands and performances but not that conductive to the average night of drinking and dancing.