The Agincourt Hotel has reportedly been sold, with its new owners pulling the plug on all live music and shutting down its dedicated band room, The Alley.
In more bad news for Sydney’s live music scene, George Street’s Agincourt Hotel has reportedly been sold – and its new owners are pulling the plug on all future live music events.
This move will see The Alley, the venue’s band room, shut down and all gig bookings beyond mid-June cancelled.
The blow was confirmed by beloved alternative club night Last Words, who’ve been running regular emo, punk, and metal events at the Agincourt since 2024.
“The Agincourt Hotel / The Alley has been sold,” they wrote on Instagram. “The new owners will not be featuring live music or entertainment in the venue at all moving forward, and they will not be honouring any existing bookings past mid June.”
Clearly unimpressed, the Last Words team added: “Fuck the pokies and the investment groups that line their own pockets off of the misfortune of others and fuck those same people that are destroying live music in Sydney.”
The Agincourt Hotel was contacted by Music Feeds for comment, but as of yet there’s been no official response.
Thankfully, not all is lost. Sydney stalwart The Lansdowne Hotel has stepped up to offer Last Words a new venue, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The Lansdowne is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary with a stacked program of gigs throughout June.
“When we started Last Words, it was just two mates throwing a party we wished existed – loud, emotional, inclusive, and a little unhinged,” said founders Matt Raciti and Dan Harvey (B.A.D. Mgmt) in a statement. “To be moving into a venue as iconic as The Lansdowne is surreal… This isn’t just a party – it’s a scene, it’s a family, and it’s only getting louder.”
What was meant to be the final ever Last Words event at The Agincourt this Saturday, 7th June, will now officially christen their new era at The Lansdowne. Live sets from Warbear, Elara and Lotus Born will kick off the night, followed by DJs until late.
Going forward, Last Words will now run every Saturday night at The Lansdowne, promising a weekly celebration of alternative culture, live music, and sweaty dancefloor catharsis.
The Agincourt Hotel axing The Alley is another nail in the coffin for Sydney’s (and quite honest, Australia’s) live music scene, with iconic venues across the country shuttering regularly and City of Sydney preparing to potentially ban festivals in some public parks.
However, for now at least, The Lansdowne has saved the day for one alternative club night, and we’re counting that as a win.
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