Doors open at Albury's Birddog bar for creatives from all genres

Chris Maney, who also owns Two Fingers bar on Smollett Street, has recently opened Birddog on Dean Street, with a vision to support artists from diverse genres and mediums.

"We'll use Two Fingers more as a breeding ground for up and coming acts, younger talent that could play in a smaller environment and then we can move them up here before they go onto the bigger pubs and clubs," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mr Maney said he envisioned the bar as an incubator for local music and new talent.

"There's plenty of live music going around in Albury, but we don't want to pigeonhole ourselves as one particular genre," he said.

"We want to be diverse so we can have country night, we can have punk night, we can have heavy metal, we can have poetry, we can have a classical piano recital up there."

Birddog sits across from the Regent Cinemas in the site which formerly homed Barrafino and Lone Star.

The bar has been refurbished in a similar eclectic style to Two Fingers with four separate spaces within the one building.

There's a 70s/80s style front bar area, a dimly lit tiki bar with leafy plants and skeleton hanging from the ceiling, a lounge area and gin bar out the back and by early next year, the upstairs area will be ready for performance with a stage and bar.

Birddog bartender and musician for local band Midnight Alibi James Oswald said he wished the venue was around when he was first entering the Border's music scene.

"It would have been fantastic," he said.

"If there was a place like this ... I tell you I would have been there everyday, I would have been there knocking on the door when it was closed.

"It's a really exciting time going ahead for musicians and I think there's a lot here for them, but like Chris said it's a good breeding ground for art.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how this place evolves over time."

Birddog is open Thursday to Saturday from 4pm and Sunday from 2pm.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: