ZETLAND: While Amy Curl worked at the Seymour Theatre she had a vision of the forecourt becoming an open-air venue for magical summer evenings with good snacks, good wine and very good music. It never happened. Logistically, it was too difficult.
Amy held onto her vision. After coming to work at the new Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in Zetland she was able to make those magical summer evenings happen. The JACC’s outdoor canopy or “outdoor room” as it is called offers both an outdoor venue and shelter – even in rainy weather – and was the perfect space for such a venture.
Overhead seven vaults lined with hardwood battens provide a unique example of architectural elegance and the availability of a small indoor bar is an added attraction. Happily, the outdoor venue provided, with the usual precautions, a Covid-safe environment.
In view of the mounting number of new apartments springing up and little night life, Amy felt that a good music club featuring a variety of music spanning New Orleans funk, French swing, rockabilly, the blues and, of course, old school jazz could be a winner. Keeping the ticket price low was a strategy for bringing the local inhabitants together and building a sense of community in this newly developed area.
And so Ruby’s Summer Socials, named after the Matron Ruby Park (great for canine companions and children) which adjoins the JACC, kicked off on January 29, 2021 and every second Friday for two months. Amy was thrilled by the local response to the events as several sessions were fully booked.
Encouraged, the Summer Socials have become Autumn Socials and will feature the Juke Joint Three, the Hauptman Trio and Kate Wadey Trio beginning on April 9.
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The Autumn Socials are presented by the Sydney Improvisation Music Association and 107 Projects. For more information see: https://sima.org.au/rubys-autumn-socials/
