ENIGMA BAR TO CLOSE AFTER 24 YEARS

Today there’s a profound sense of sadness in Adelaide's live music community as the iconic Enigma Bar closes its doors. This marks a poignant reminder of the harsh realities confronting numerous grassroots venues in the present landscape.

Enigma, a cherished music venue for over two decades, holds a special place in the hearts of many local bands and punters, particularly within the metal community. Eric Ott today penned an open letter on Facebook, shedding light on a range of challenges, including escalating operational expenses such as rent, electricity, and insurance, as well as the complexities of booking diverse acts, be they local, international, or interstate.

This unfortunate situation is not isolated, as similar issues plague live music venues with increasing frequency. In response to these challenges, we saw the Independent Live Music Venues Alliance emerge, venues like Jive, Grace Emily Hotel, Broadcast Bar, The Gov, The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Semaphore Workers Club, and Goolwa’s Murray Delta Juke Joint.

Enigma's closure underscores the difficult times faced by live music venues, prompted by various factors. 

It serves as a poignant reminder to rally behind the establishments that have been instrumental in fostering music in South Australia for numerous years.

The final night at Enigma is scheduled for this Friday, the 18th of November, commencing at 8:00 PM and concluding with the pouring of the last drop.

Read Enigma's open letter on Facebook below: 

“Dear Enigma Bar Community,

It is with mixed emotions that we share some important news about the future of Enigma Bar. After an incredible 24 years of live music, community, and so many unforgettable moments, we have made the difficult decision to close the doors of Enigma Bar. This decision has not been taken lightly, and it comes as a result of the increasing challenges posed by rising running costs, including rent, electricity, and insurance. Additionally, the complexities of securing diverse acts, whether local, international, or interstate, have become more pronounced over time.

We have done our best to keep the venue running in these challenging times, operating as efficiently as possible. However, the current climate and the astronomical overheads associated with limited trading days have made it unsustainable.

Enigma Bar has been a haven for music lovers in the Adelaide live music scene for so many years, a place where hundreds if not thousands of bands and and tens of thousands of patrons have created lasting memories. From great performances upstairs in Bar 2 to amazing electronic nights in Bar 3, to the times when we ran our tequila bar, amazing DJ night downstairs including when we ran our day club on Sunday mornings, we were Adelaide's first venue with free internet, the unique atmosphere of the beer garden (including a yummy snack of a sanger in bread from our beloved BBQ Bar), to the grassroots stage downstairs, night's out at Enigma have brought the local community closer to their favorite local, interstate and international bands and DJs - Enigma Bar has been a special place to many.

From its inception, the ethos of Enigma Bar was simple — we welcomed everyone, regardless of appearance, style, or music preference. Our primary concern has been creating an environment where people from all kinds of backgrounds could come together, feel safe, and enjoy great music.

This Friday (17th of November), we invite you to join us for one last hoorah as we raise our glasses for our final evening at Enigma Bar. We will be open from 8:00 pm until the last drop is poured. Whether you can stay for a while or just pop in to say hello, your presence would mean a lot. Let's come together to celebrate the memories and connections forged at Enigma Bar over the years.

Thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of this incredible journey. Enigma Bar wouldn't have been what it has been without the support of our amazing community.

Best regards,1999-2023

Eric Ott - Enigma Bar”