Renowned Sydney music venue closes in wake of post-Covid trading environment

Sydney jazz establishment, Foundry616, has announced that it will close its doors “with great sadness and regret” having stood as one of the last remaining dedicated jazz venues in the city.

Owners Peter and Elizabeth Rechniewski posted via Facebook this week “despite considerable effort, Foundry616 has struggled to cope effectively in the very challenging post-Covid trading environment. 

“It's with great sadness and regret that we announce the closure of Foundry616 from the end of June 2025.”

“We would like to extend our gratitude to all the artists who have performed at Foundry616 since we opened in 2013 and who made it such an important club that was central to the Sydney jazz scene.”

Peter Rechniewski is the co-founder and former Artistic Director of the Sydney Improvised Music Association, established in 1984.

Foundry616 has long been the hub of the Sydney jazz scene, hosting international, Australian and tribute acts over the course of its history. Artists including pianists Mike Nock, saxophonists Dale Barlow and Sandy Evans, trumpeter James Morrison, Grammy-winning vocalist Gaby Moreno, Shikye-Alyce and band and groups including The Catholics and Ten Part Invention have graced the Foundry stage. It was also a performance space for many emerging Sydney and interstate jazz musicians.

From its establishment in 2013 until 2019, Foundry616 was the principal venue for the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival; post-2019, it still played host to various festival events.

According to Limelight Magazine Foundry616 is the second major jazz venue to close due to the impact of the pandemic on trading and live music after Venue 505, which shut up shop in 2019 due to financial strain after the end of JobKeeper (the music program moved to its sister theatre venue The Old 505 theatre in Newtown, which also officially closed in 2022).

Image. Experience SADE: The Live Experience with Shikye-Alyce & Band performing at Foundry616. Credit Nigel Benton