A live music institution for three decades, The Governor Hindmarsh (affectionally known as The Gov) is as famous for supporting Adelaide’s myriad music communities as it is for being the place where your favourite band stops past on its national tour.
The two-time winner of Australia’s Best Entertainment Venue at the AHA Awards, the Port Road landmark is known far and wide as a welcoming venue for every kind of music lover – from punks to pub rockers and blues followers to hip hop heads, folk fans and jazz enthusiasts.
Adelaide’s home of live music since 1993 – when the Tonkin family took over the heritage pub to turn it into what it is today – you can still witness some of The Gov’s greatest hits on its walls as shots of its most iconic live moments line the pub’s walls.
While national and international heavyweights pack out the 800-capacity Main Room, the Front Bar is where the local action is thanks to loyally followed nights such as The Adam Page 4Tet (every Sunday) and Friday Night Acoustics.
Then there is The Gov’s more recent addition, the Gallery Stage, where music jams and specialty nights take over such as Uke Night (every Wednesday), Gumbo Blues Jams (Front Bar and Gallery Room every Thursday) and Cajun Sessions (every second Saturday).
This means you are guaranteed to catch a band or solo artist kick out the jams (with a Coppers Pale Ale in hand, of course!) every night The Gov is open, sometimes in multiple rooms.
“The idea is: people can make their mind up on the day, come out and see something that doesn’t cost them any money, grab a beer, sit back and enjoy some nice music,” says The Gov’s publicist Sarah Martin.
“The majority of the performances that happen at the front of the hotel are free, so there has been a real focus on ensuring we are creating a community space. It’s also a safe place for people to be among crowds where they know we are doing the right thing and get that confidence back of being in groups [post-Covid].”
After Covid brought touring music to a halt, The Gov had to reschedule more than 100 gigs but its deep connection to Adelaide’s myriad music communities shined as a successful petition to save the live music venue received almost 10,000 signatures.
As a result, The Gov received a $300k grant from the State Government to keep live music in Hindmarsh’s famous music hub going.
“It was incredibly special to see so many people sign that petition,” Sarah says. “People were obviously very worried that there was a threat to such an iconic venue; people could take a venue like The Gov for granted but they wanted us to keep doing what we’re doing. That was very humbling for everyone that works here.”
After the lockdown, The Gov had a big focus on community events and shows, such as Dave Gleeson (Screaming Jets, The Angels) and Crafty’s Sunday afternoon #streamingnotscreaming residency, their famous Uke Night and the open mic weekly happening: Friday Free for All.
“The Gov is about putting live music on stage bit it’s also about supporting people who want to learn music as well as local musicians,” Sarah says.
The Gov recently expanded its Main Room-adjacent Beer Garden (where you can catch everything happening on stage from the comfort of the outdoor space) and while the Main Room’s capacity is slightly lower due to restrictions, there is still a great band room vibe in the space as capacity currently sits at 600.
And remember, if you want a meal beforehand, The Gov has you sorted with pub favourites, wood oven pizzas and a delicious selection of veg and vegan options, too.
Opening Hours
Wednesday-Thursday: 3pm-11pm
Friday: 3pm-11.55pm
Saturday: 1pm-11.55pm
Sunday: 2pm-10pm
Wednesday-Thursday: 3pm-11pm
Friday: 3pm-11.55pm
Saturday: 1pm-11.55pm
Sunday: 2pm-10pm
