The Brightside

I’ve been going to The Brightside every week since I turned 18 two years ago, it’s definitely my favourite place in the Valley. I even met my boyfriend there! The beer garden is where I spend most of my time, but being able to see a gig every week is awesome. The staff, management and owner are all amazing people as well.

As a young adult who never quite grew out of that awkward «college rock» or «scene/​emo» phase, this is one of my favourite places. Before moving I was a Regular — a status earned after attending for six weeks in a row every Thu-​Sat night, or when other Regulars recognise you despite being in some sort of costume.
There are always themed nights, so look them up on Facebook if you want to get the most out of your night. They run Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, and occasionally on Sunday evenings. The beergarden and smoking area are free, and there is a fully-​stocked bar in the beergarden plus excellent coverings for rainy weather. Music such as Fall Out Boy and Blink-​182 is always coming through the speakers in this outdoor area, loud enough to be heard yet not so loud that you can’t talk at a regular volume. There is also access to the toilets from the beergarden.
It costs between $ 15 and $ 25 for entry into the main room where the bands play. Inside you’ll find the main stage, a large dancefloor, a «makeout corner» with appropriate lighting, and another fully-​stocked bar. The DJs usually play a variety of punk, emo/​scene, hardcore, metal, and party hits, enough to keep you dancing all night, and rumour goes that if you buy the DJ a drink, you are likely to have your requested song played sooner rather than later.
Drinks aren’t terribly pricey, and there is an ATM available in the sitting room. On certain event nights (Halloween, New Years’, Australia Day, etc), a third section in a car park is opened with a second stage and third bar. The vibe is very much like a house party gone wild, and I have never heard of the venue closing before 4am. In order to maximise your nights’ fun, I recommend looking up the Facebook page and searching the event. There are hosts who can also provide you with VIP cards, which means discounts on drinks (standard price ranges from $ 6 for beer to $ 20 for cocktails) and other bonuses.
If you’re a fan of any Destroy All Lines club, this is the ideal party place for you :)