14 Bond Street (between Victoria Street and Willis Street, opposite Trade Aid).

This is a happening new music venue that local musician Laura Collins has created out of the old Bond Street Inn/Loaded Hog bar -- check out the website, http://www.therubylounge.co.nz. It's a relaxed bar setting with a great atmosphere and everything we need in terms of stage, PA and lighting. Plus you can buy drinks and food.

While the Ruby Lounge will be great for concerts, it’s not so suitable for our more informal club events such as singarounds and blackboard concerts. Luckily we’ve found another venue close by that’s just about perfect for those:

upstairs at 76 Willis Street, opposite Mercer Street (which some of you will remember as the Pioneer Coffee Lounge), just up the road from New World Metro. This is a great little venue with loads of ambience. The only catch: it's closed on Sundays (like most of the other venues we've looked at). So, rather than lose this great opportunity, the committee has made a bold decision. We've changed the night for our monthly club sessions from second Sundays to second Wednesdays.

This decision will be tested by your response, but we thought it was worth a trial and feel sure that once you see the place you'll be won over. If you want to come early there's a happy hour from 5, and reasonably-priced meals available till 7. The Katipo Cafe doesn't have its own website but you can get an idea of the place from http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/venue/katipo-cafe-wellington .