Oxford Art Factory

A shot of Whiskey + a Tinnie of VB = $ 10. Need I say more.
The bouncers are awesome here too, not once have I received the «How many drinks you had tonight mate?», chat at the front door — which is always «3 beers» (30). And there is never a long wait in line, if any.
I’ve seen a ton of shows here from Folk bands like Little Bastard, to some super weird electro band of 65 year olds… There is always something happening.
Although, some of the best times can be had at 11pm on weekends. The shows wrap up as the public get to frolic in and get amongst it on the dance floor.
One tip — Don’t wear business attire or a suit to this venue. You’ll struggle to get in!

This was a fun night! So a couple of months ago, I unexpectedly got to watch «Twin Forks» and got to see Chris Carabba thisclose. Because we arrived way early and insisted on plonking ourselves right in front of the stage.
In fact, we arrived so early that the first time we arrived, they told us we had to leave because we were there too early… and proceeded to lock out the door after us. I’m pretty used to lining up for acts in Enmore and Metro Theatres, but I guess since this is a smaller venue which doesn’t get as full so it doesn’t warrant lining up a gazillion hours before to get a good spot.
The place is cozy, smaller than other concert venues, and feels more like a bar that a stage grew out of. I didn’t have any drinks at the bar, but according to my friend the prices were pretty reasonable and the drinks were good.
And the décor looks so cute! I love the way it’s fitted out.
CHRIS CARABBA!!! And he sang «STOLEN!!!» Love love.
P. S. We were so close, a girl in the row behind us was still close enough to grab Chris Carbba’s leg. Yeah, she totally did that.

Love this venue! Yes it’s not that big, but it makes the shows you go to that more intimate especially when it’s a bigger act. Some might think it’s too small, but I think it’s just about right. Obviously it can get pretty packed depending on the event, but what concert/​show isn’t?
The bar also has some interesting drinks that should satisfy anyone that goes there. They have pickle-​backs! Jameson’s with a pickle juice chaser and a little pickle to top it off. Sounds weird, but super addictive. They used to have Crown Royale, but sadly they no longer carry it… only bar in Sydney that carried it. sigh.
OAF is also right in the middle of Oxford Street which usually makes for an entertaining evening.

Yeah. I just. This place. Every time.
Wanna know how good this joints is? I can’t imagine a time without it. Literally do not know how I spent my nocturnal hours before it came on the scene. Last night I saw Fuck Buttons lights up the joint with their nihilistic futuristic technotronic electronica, and before them I’ve seen everyone from CHVRCHES to Youth Lagoon to a damn Bret Easton Ellis Q&A. I must have been to 50 gigs here, mebbe more. And that’s only the gig half, which always has a reasonable cover charge, and the other half, the bar part, is totally free ²⁴⁄₇.
I like how they don’t gouge you with drink prices — they have a monster array of cool cocktails for $ 9.50 a pop, you can get a tinny and a shot of rye for ten bucks, there’s $ 5 frozen margaritas, tons of beers. .. it’s an alcoholic wonderland back there, a joy to drink at. And cheap. Whee!
Why aren’t there more places like this? It’s the perfect formula, it’s the bar equivalent of finding the cure for cancer. Hey everyone, be more like OAF. Ya big oafs.

I come for the $ 5 alcoholic slurpees and I stay for the $ 5 alcoholic slurpees. Not bad when there’s a live band playing on Saturday night’s but I prefer the 80’s playlist that gives you something to dance to!

I’ve seen a few shows here, and they’ve all been awesome, but I’m not totally in love with the place. There are some serious sight line issues in here, which can suck if you’re not in the center of the floor area. The sound is good here, if a little garbled because of the lower ceiling, but it’s not enough to be annoying. They have pretty good bands here, so keep it in your sights for a cooler bands that are a little more low profile.

Claustrophobia anyone? What a small, sweaty venue. I’d expect to pay maybe $ 15 tops at a venue of this size.
I don’t know if it is the venue acoustics or the equipment of the band I saw, but I walked out after two songs. I have seen this band 4 times prior and loved them. Once, it was standing in a car park outside the actual gig because we couldn’t get in — THAT sounded better than here.
Never again.

My most recent outing at Oxford Art is all too indicative of the mayhem that is this place. I was wandering in for what promised to be a couple of relaxing and suave sets as part of the weekly Wednesday Folk Night they used to have, but as soon as the bouncer asked, «You’re here for the show, ey?» with a sly little wink, I began to wonder what all my wander would become.
Umps. UmPS. UMPS. As I descended the stairs, the all too familiar flair of techno filled my ears, the flash of disco lights lit up in my eyes, and before I know it, WABAAAAAM, there it was — a male strip show laid out before me… I was beside myself. And obviously inside the room the moment I saw a bare ass through the door.
The cute queen taking tickets whipped his head from the stage when I walked in, and flashed a «that will be $ 30 please.» «You really think that ass is worth $ 30?» I said, as the man on stage vibrated his toned tail feather to the rhythm of screaming women, and men, down below. The ticket teller then said, «Honey, do I look like I’ve ever had to pay for some ass?» WIN. Absolute win.
The next set of stairs down from Oxford Art’s main room of madness did indeed lead to Folk Night, meaning we were greeted by an intimate room packed with banjos, plaid shirts, and cider drinkers in fedoras. Ahhh, now this is more like it… Oxford’s small side room is warm and inviting, with its own bar dealing $ 20 cocktail jugs and cheap drinks on tap. The teeny stage is perfect for duos or trios and lit by lovely Christmas lights. There are couches and comfy chairs directly in front of the stage and the atmosphere borders on romantic; except when the «umps umps» of next doors’ Saturday night fever fest occasionally leaked in.
Long story short, the Oxford Art Factory has something for everyone! It’s unapologetically confused with its identity and doesn’t choose to be a venue for these people or those people. During the week it holds heaps of free gigs, and on the weekend it plays host to big-​name artists like Purity Ring. They also tend to hold free parties on the weekend loaded with djs and drink deals, so be on the lookout for those.
It’s a rocking place to catch a strip-​show and a lovely venue to swoon over long haired guitar players. Not many venues can say that, can they?

The first time I stepped into Oxford Art it was like I’d stepped back to my uni days. A dark space filled with booze, tunes, artwork, musos, creative types and an abundance of uni students — the atmosphere is lively and fun.
There’s always a great night out to be had at Oxford Art, a relaxed, non-​pretentious, more alternative crowd out to have a good time and enjoy good music. Little or no cover charge, good value drinks and an easy going crowd make this an excellent destination.
A great performance space and gig venue for live music, featuring up and comers as well as known acts, the Factory also doubles as an art markets some weekends.

Oxford Art Factory takes the opposite tack of Spectrum/​Q Bar, putting interior design forward as the focus of this venue. This place packs out, so don’t wear anything too warm. You will melt into a puddle of hipster goo under everyone’s shoes and no one will like you any more. So don’t do it. It seems to get warm even when it’s not that crowded, come to think of it.
Regardless, this is a great bar, either to catch a gig or to simply imbibe alcoholic beverages. The bar is well designed to create flow between the main area and a smaller sidebar. For those not willing to pay cover charge, you might just be fortunate to head under the main stairs to an upper area and catch a free gig. Who these guys will be, well, who knows. But free’s free.

The Oxford Art Factory is a warehouse styled venue with multiple areas for events and performances.
I went there for the launch of HTC’s new smartphone Sensation. From outside the place doesn’t boast much and on entering it can be quite dark. But the event by HTC downstairs was rocking and they took full advantage of the venue. There was a huge poster on the wall on which you could write your comments about the new phone and inside, they had an open bar and multiple screens and a stage and they demoed their new phone. There was a huge Sensation phone between the two sides enclosed in glass and neon lights. It was bright and amazing. The music was great and I had a wonderful time. It can get crowded though. Even though there weren’t too many people, it’s a tight space and I retreated for fresh air outside.

There used to be a band called ‘Somasek’; they were an electronic indie band and they blew peoples socks off. You would walk into a room that they were performing in and there would be bare feet everywhere. Sometimes just shoes, the socks somehow struggled free from the foot and navigated its way out of the shoe. The band occasionally blew shoes off, but this was rare.
Anyway, Somasek was playing at the Oxford Art Factory one night and so I and a group of friends went along.
There are two stages at the Oxford Art Factory, a large one and a regular sized one, the band tonight would play on the regular sized one.
We had drinks and shuffled our feet to the varying support acts and music pumping from the speakers; someone’s electro happy play mix. Then we watched as the band, which was a two man piece at this point, took to the stage.
The music flowed through us like an electric eel on heat and we swayed, bopped and cheered until they were finished, then the headliner came on; a group of 16 year old ‘heart throbs’ with flowing hair and tight black jeans. A crowd of adoring young boys and girls cheered and screamed as though there loins were burning.
A friend ‘bwispered’ into anothers ear (A bwisper, or bar-​whisper, is when you whisper into someone’s ear, but because you’re in a bar, you’re actually shouting into their cochlea.) and one of the loyal supporters vilified us and shouted (an actual shout) at us to leave the area. «If you’re not going to enjoy the music, leave!» He said.
We left.
The Oxford Art Factory, whether you’re at the smaller more intimate stage, or the multileveled main stage is ideal for live music and a great night out, despite being abused by a small man with a medieval-​minstrel inspired hairdo, we all had a blast at what some people, through no disrespect, but rather with the utmost, call the ‘Fart Factory.’

Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Art Factory of 1960’s New York City, Oxford Art Factory’s vision is to bring together all facets of the Arts under one roof. This is a great place to view art and street art and listen to live music. The main room and gallery room are separated by the bar and also a glass installation box that has seen some weird, wonderful, and stupid installations in its time. I’ve seen a guy riding an exercise bike (weird), a woman bathing in a soapy tub (wonderful), and a hipster in a bright yellow raincoat pacing back & forth reading from Confucius (stupid).
The gallery bar is always free and there are some great bands and DJs on in the main room. And the inspirational owner Gerber has put on amazing impromptu wakes for the likes of Malcolm McLaren and Clarence Clemons. OAF does not limit itself to any genre so the demographic changes on any given night but it’s a great place to wander down to the gallery and have a late night bevvy if Oxford St techno isn’t doing it for you.

The Oxford Art Factory is simply stunning. Visually, it’s really quite breathtaking, especially if you see it when it isn’t filled with writhing human bodies.
I love the décor, and I love the bar. Unlike most bars, which are situated right off the dancefloor, the bar in Oxford Art Factory is surrounded by sofas and tables at which to sit around and possibly have a chat.
If you like art, if you can appreciate great décor, or if you just want to drink and socialise some place *nice*, you may want to give this a try.

I’ve never really had a good night at Oxford Art Factory. This place is architecturally designed, the service is great and the décor stunning. It has all the foundations of a great venue. Yet I still have never had a good night here… There is something missing, perhaps even off putting and I just cant put my finger on it. I think its just not my thing, «it’s not you, it’s me!»