The Junk Bar

The Junk Bar is a small, independent bar and live music venue in New Farm, Brisbane, with two distinct spaces. Upstairs, the Cocktail Lounge pairs drinks with vinyl selected by the bar staff, while the downstairs Skukum Lounge hosts live music in an intimate setting. The venue’s approach is refreshingly low-key: audiences can expect clear sound at a comfortable volume, with a focus on discovering artists they may not already know.

The space is built for relaxed evenings rather than formal dining or large-scale events. Vintage couches, a retro feel and a carefully chosen record collection give the bar a lived-in character, while the cocktail service and food menu make it possible to settle in for more than just a quick drink. The venue’s own description places particular emphasis on its cocktails, and its customer feedback also consistently highlights the drinks, atmosphere and friendly service. A selection of beers is mentioned by visitors as another part of the offering.

The Junk Bar began in 2010 when Mia Goodwin and Jamie Trevaskis opened a modest venue on Ashgrove Avenue. It later changed hands, with Dylan and Karen Proctor taking over in 2020, before the business moved from Ashgrove to its current New Farm home. That history remains part of the venue’s identity: it presents itself as a local place with a continuing role in supporting emerging artists from Brisbane and beyond.

Its current address, 710 Brunswick Street, is within the historic Brunswick Buildings, a two-storey masonry structure dating from 1889. That setting adds a sense of place to an already distinctive bar. The Junk Bar suits friends looking for drinks and conversation, as well as listeners who prefer their gigs close-up and informal. It is also a natural choice for an evening built around live music, cocktails and a relaxed atmosphere rather than a busy, high-volume night out.