As I walked into the Lismore Bowlo, the sounds of “Heading in the Right Direction”, a song made famous by Renee Geyer were already drifting through the air. Hearing that song, which has always been one of my favourites, immediately set the perfect mood for the evening.
The venue was hosting the popular Lismore Supper Club, a spot I’d heard about for quite some time. While it’s fundamentally a bowling club—and a great, community-based one—it has really established itself as a versatile venue for hire in recent years. We even held our school reunion here a couple of years ago, and it was a perfect fit for that.
The band played a great selection of songs from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s with a distinct funky, soulful feel. They covered classics by artists like Etta James, the Doobie Brothers, and Little Feat, and even included a couple of original songs.
The crowd was mostly fifty-plus, and the music certainly felt rooted in that era, with nothing much newer than about 1980. Regardless, the music felt good, the vibe was lovely, and I was completely enjoying the night.
It was particularly great to see a band playing where no one was watching the show through their mobile phone. This kind of traditional, live music gathering is important for Lismore, which has a rich history of live music that, sadly, hasn’t been as present in more recent years. The band tonight included some very well-known local musicians, which speaks to the area’s talent. Lismore, of course, is the birthplace of major Australian bands like Grinspoon and Skunkhour, and this enduring live music scene is what makes this place special.