A new live music venue in Dapto is paying homage to local talent as well as the coal and dog racing industries.
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Neil Townsend acquired Little Joe's Kitchen & Bar in June and after making some improvements changed the name and relaunched it in October.
Diamond Dogs Music Lounge & Bar takes its name in part from the classic David Bowie album and song Diamond Dogs. But the new eatery and bar's name is also inspired by Black Diamond, which represents the local coal industry, and Dogs, which relates to the history of local greyhound racing in Dapto..
Mr Townsend is a muso and sound engineer who has wanted to run his own venue for some time. When he discovered Little Joe's was for sale he saw it as the perfect venue to realise his dream.
"When I walked into this place I fell in love with it. It has a casual feel," he said.
"I want to use Diamond Dogs to push both local music as well pull in visiting artists..
"At the moment we have live music on Saturday night with an emphasis on local performers and open mic on Sunday afternoons for all. Seasoned musicians and young wanna be's can get up and ply their trade.
"I was doing live music for bands up until I bought this place. Bands would ring me and say they need PA and lighting. I would set it up, pull it down and do all their mixing. That is where all the PA and lighting I have here has come from. It is all in house ready for the muso's when they arrive.
"We are even set up for a full band. They can just arrive, plug in and away they go".
He said they do everything from acoustic soloists to full bands and comedy.
"This Friday night we have Chris Franklin the famous comedian doing the "Bloke" song. We also have the Hype Duo who are a YouTube sensation".
With music Mr Townsend's passion, a quick scroll through the menu shows how much it influences his life and new business venture.
Everything from the fish burger to the steak is named after a band. Diners order from a jukebox style menu that includes ACDC, Screaming Jets, Deadpool, Radiators, Angels, Boom Crash Opera and Pussycat Dolls.
"Everything in here I want to be music based," Mr Townsend said.
"And we have three screens going with videos playing".
The live music lounge, restaurant and bar is upstairs on the corner of Baan Baan Street and Princes Highway, Dapto.
Diamond Dogs Bar and Lounge is open from Wednesday to Sunday and is licensed until midnight.
It is about to introduce trivia nights on Wednesday. And is looking to introduce karaoke on Fridays and open mics on Sunday afternoons for anyone to come in and do what they want.
But Mr Townsend's primary goal is for people to be able to come in, sit down and listen to some live music while enjoying some good food.
"We do functions as well for up to 100 people. We have already had a 60th and a 40th here. And we can do everything from finger food to grazing tables," he said.
"Whatever people want we can do it. We are not set in our ways".