Opinion divided over lockout

Opinion divided over lockout

The hot topic on everyone’s lips this week, besides the Bali bombers’ impending executions, the Melbourne Cup and the US presidential elections, was of course the lockouts.

It’s hard to tell from the outset just how they will impact on us, but it’s undeniable that there’s too much drunken violence on the strip and something needs to be done.

Everyone has a different point of view, from those who live close to Oxford St and want more of a neighbourhood feel to those who travel into the area from around Sydney and view it as a party central that should never stop.

Young feel one way and the old another, and some people have mixed views. How highly some people value personal choice versus other people who would happily make sacrifices for the greater good is another big divider.

One interesting comment was made that the lockouts may possibly mean that people start going out a bit earlier, so as to be well and truly settled in one venue by 2am.

This particular person was fed up with heading out to mostly empty clubs at what he perceived as the reasonably late hour of 9 or 10pm. I’d have to agree -” if there’s no culture of eating and drinking in bars before hitting the dance clubs before midnight, like they do in Europe from around 9pm to midnight, then it can be hard work filling up those hours without losing motivation to go out.

The lockouts will take a lot of getting used to, and planning your night will take on importance like it’s never had before. Finding yourself peaking in your parked car at 3am because you can’t get in anywhere will not maketh a good night! I only hope that lockouts can at least give the Surry Hills police a good chance to flush the dregs out of the area for the safety of the rest of us.

Hailing from a city that trialled lockouts earlier this year (without much success), DJ Pete Kung makes the trek up from Melbourne this weekend for sets at both Handle Bar and Loose Ends.

Pete was one of the three resident DJs at Q&A (Queer & Alternative), which sadly ended in 2007 after 13 cult years. He’s one of the best disco/electro DJs you will hear, and will be down at Gilligans on Saturday night alongside fellow proponents of the disco beat, Stephen Allkins and Vinyl Richie. Entry $10. Then he’ll reappear at Loose Ends at Phoenix on Sunday night from 10pm. Entry $5.

If you find that in these tough times you can’t even spare a fiver, Modular Records are throwing a free event every Thursday starting tonight at Tatlers in Kings Cross, which will be headlined by Spank Records’ Mark Murphy, Kali, Vinyl Richie, Perfect Snatch and a special guest this week. You have to get on the door list -” so find your way to www.modularpeople.com/recession and add your details now.

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