Solace is an incredible representation of where the European and Australian underground scenes come together and thrive. From its carefully curated lineup to its unique atmosphere, it perfectly captures the energy and innovation that make this new space, in our eyes, the perfect club.
Watching the venue grow and gain recognition has been amazing, and we truly believe it deserves all the attention it’s getting. As it continues to gain traction and explore new sounds, we’re excited to see how it evolves and pushes boundaries in the near future.
Lineup
What really sets Solace Bar apart is its ability to bring in international artists, each with their own unique sound and artistic identity. Also, the loyalty to quality local acts which we really appreciate seeing too of course!
Our Jan standout was Decoder, who delivered an insanely immersive and flawless set. His mixing style was an intriguing look at crafting sci-fi soundscapes that embraced the slower, progressive side of traditional techno we really like.
Extended Set Times
My god… having sets span for more than 1 hour is such a great breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, somewhat of a rarity in Naarm's scene.
Giving artists time to breathe and spend time building a set is the biggest difference in experience for listeners. It makes sets more rewarding for artists and more enjoyable for the audience, really embracing the roots of the music they promote.
The unique opening hours have the venue operating over 8 hours, relatively earlier in the day compared to most Naarm clubs, giving a more relaxed feeling to the natural peaks of the club.
Final Thoughts
We didn’t plan on posting anything about Solace Bar, but after our experience, we truly felt it was worth sharing.
The club/bar mix is well thought out, and the lineup is solid weekly. Solace houses an amazing sound system, a perfect size for a mix of intimacy and capacity, and three beautifully designed levels of bar and dancefloor.
This place truly felt fresh and judgment-free, which, to us, is the most important part of music; comfort in self-expression and the ability to hear new things.