Sometimes you don’t want a fancy pub, you want a live music venue with a bistro attached and a history of sticky floors.
Sometimes you want a no-frills pub meal. You fancy a steak with chips or a parma with molten cheese, and you don't want fancy jus or panko breadcrumbs. You're heading to a gig, and you need to get a solid meal into you before you enjoy a big night out. So where do you go?
The answer, my friends, is the Croxton. This live music fave is a Thornbury institution. Built in 1844 when 'things were built to last' (or so those long-dead relatives say), it's a huge old pub with a heap of heart and gloriously daggy décor. It won't win a beauty contest any time soon. Nor will you likely find it featured on the Insta feed of Melbourne influencers. But who cares? You're guaranteed to get a table, a quick and hunger-busting meal, and solid service that isn't remotely stuck-up.
Of course, there's much more to the Croxton than the bistro and front bar. The bandroom is the stuff of Melbourne legend. Back in the 1970s and 80s, it was the stomping ground of some of Australia's biggest rock acts, including AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Skyhooks, Men at Work and INXS. In fact, AC/DC played nine gigs there over the course of one frantic year, always closing out the show with their 1975 hit 'Baby, Please Don't Go.'
Reopened in 2016 after a lick of paint and the instalment of a phenomenal new PA, the bandroom has once again become a hallowed place for established and emerging Aussie bands. In recent history, the massive 14-metre stage has welcomed G Flip, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Amyl and the Sniffers, Seth Sentry, The Smith Street Band, Hiatus Kaiyote and Karnivool. Pre-Covid, there were plenty of big internationals hitting the Croxton stage too – think Parquet Courts, King Krule, Khruangbin and more. Post-covid, the crowds are back for live music, and a rock 'n' roll resurrection is underway. Check out the Croc’s website or Instagram feed to stay in the loop.
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