Foo Fighters will inaugurate Crown LIVE, Melbourne’s newest theatre, with a special one-night performance on November 16. The 1,250-seat venue forms part of Crown Melbourne’s $200 million redevelopment aimed at enhancing Southbank as a hub for entertainment, dining, and nightlife.
The band, led by frontman Dave Grohl, will kick off the new venue with what is described as a rare club show, offering fans an intimate concert experience distinct from their usual stadium performances. Grohl highlighted the unique atmosphere of playing smaller venues, emphasizing the closer connection with the audience and the intense energy that fills such spaces.
Crown Melbourne chief executive Ed Domingo emphasized the significance of hosting Foo Fighters for the launch. He noted that while the band typically performs in large arenas worldwide, the opportunity for fans to see them in a more compact setting at Crown LIVE is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Domingo further outlined Crown LIVE’s versatility, stating the venue is designed to accommodate a wide array of entertainment formats, including musical theatre, residency shows, comedy acts, and concerts.
“The measure of a great venue isn’t the size of the crowd it can hold, but the calibre of experience it can create for the people in the room,” Domingo said, highlighting that the venue’s last row is just 25 meters from the stage to ensure an up-close experience for every attendee.
The Foo Fighters show at Crown LIVE is part of the band’s Take Cover world tour, which also includes a November 14 performance at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. The band’s set list for the tour will feature hits such as “All My Life,” “Times Like These,” “The Pretender,” “Walk,” “My Hero,” “Learn to Fly,” “Monkey Wrench,” “Best of You,” and “Everlong.”
Tickets will be allocated through a demand-based selection process following a registration period, with sales managed via Ticketmaster. Access will be extended to the general public as well as Crown Rewards members.
Domingo expressed ambitions for Crown LIVE to become a prominent player in Melbourne’s live entertainment scene without attempting to replace existing venues. Instead, the goal is to expand the city’s offerings by providing a highly adaptable space that can support a variety of artists and productions.
Inspired by the model used in Las Vegas, Domingo envisions artists who may not be on extensive tours taking up residencies at Crown LIVE, performing multiple shows over several weeks to forge strong connections with audiences and the city. This approach aims to bring a broader and sustained array of live cultural experiences to Melbourne’s entertainment landscape.