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Gatsbys Skyline: a Review

What goes on in this 1920's themed music venue?

(Authors Note: This blog has recently been updated to fit new information. If any information is incorrect and needs to be removed, find the authors contact details at the bottom of the page.)

Introduction

My disappointment rang not from the performances at Gatsby's Skyline that night, but from the news that Gatsby's Skyline as we know it, won't be around much longer. Co-owners Joy and Greg Hamlyn started up Gatsbys with the intent to sell after year 3, since it was built in 2022 and it’s now 2026, they have decided that it is time to move on.

Joy says in an email to me, “The vision was to get it up and running, build an audience and establish great music and musician credibility… that, we have done. It’s been three and a half years and it’s now for sale. The reason for the time line - well, we want to sell before we are 60 and retire. Pure and simple.”

Now, I know Manjimup's a small town, but Gatsby's Skyline has nothing “small” about it. Joy says the reason they built in Manjimup was to give local, south west, Perth and touring musicians a quality venue to perform in, “especially when travelling in between the long distances from Albany/Esperance to Bunbury/Margaret River.” She says, “Not a pub, not a bar, but a music venue dedicated to live performances.”

And wow have they done just that, let’s start with how I got there.

Gatsbys

One of my best friends Nyx moved back to his home town of Manjimup last year. Every month or so me and my other best friends Keith and Charlie, visit him and walk around the town. Each time we do so we would walk past a place called, “Gatsbys Skyline.” When I got told what it was, that they held burlesque shows, gigs, comedians, a bar and a whole music venue, I was enthralled. The outside of this place is so inviting, from the gig posters on the windows by the door to the illuminated “NOW SHOWING: INSERT BAND HERE,” sign and the stairs leading up into the bar, Gatsby’s reminded me of the old metal gigs I used to go to in Perth from 2022-2024. I hadn’t seen somewhere so intriguing since then. Alas, it was just another one of those things I couldn’t go to yet due to my age…until the last trip down to Manjimup where I finally got to see what was waiting inside.

On the first night of the trip that Easter weekend, Nyx told us that his sister’s friend’s band ODYSSEY was performing at Gatsbys in a jam session that was going on the next night. I was pumped, so pumped that I forgot he said “tomorrow night” and started getting ready to go after dinner. I sadly changed into pyjamas instead. Anyways, I hadn't been to any sort of gig in a year or two because I hated public transport into Perth so I was a tad nervous but mainly excited, to see what Gatsbys looked like inside. Walking up the stairs into the bar, seeing the band posters on each wall just above the scratched gold railing and the bass of the first band we’d see was nothing less than comforting. That adrenaline you get from going to any sort of event. We awkwardly stumbled our way around the other guests who were crowded around some tables as we sat down in a booth. The majority of the groups performing were older, more experienced musicians which meant groovier 60s sounding music and rustic voices. But the band we came here to see, ODYSSEY, from Nannup, was everything but old, not that that's a bad thing.

ODYSSEY
ODYSSEY started up and I was instantly hooked. They played their original songs which consisted of grunge, rock and dare I say, “beachy tones.” Their music felt like something you'd listen to at the beach in the early 2000s with your friends while you run a muck. It didn’t help that the lead singer and guitarist looked like he was surfing. Though that was far from a bad thing, don't get me wrong.each member of this band knew what they wanted to put out there and they did it.

This group of teens and wizard were electric as they jammed out, proudly sharing their music to the crowd. It felt like the older women were plucked right back into their teen days as they jumped around on the dance floor. What I've observed with Manjimup the numerous times I've visited is that everyone knows one another, everyone is a village of sorts. Nobody seems embarrassed to be dancing around people they know but might not be friends with, they are all just taking up their space and they're happy to do so. I think we should all strive to be like that.

Break

After their set, we decided it might be time to walk home, we went outside and started crossing the street so my friends could take a break while we figured out what we wanted to do when immediately someone yelled out, “Oh! The youngins are going home! How did we outlast you?” We whipped our heads around and gave a response “nooooo don't be silly! We're just crossing the road to go over here!” A fashionable lady yelled out back, “Why don't you just come stand with us? Too cool for us?” ha! We wish… so we joined them. A man with a reggae vibe and New Zealand accent wearing a beanie and jean jacket said, “Ha! Look at these cool cats smokin, that's not good for you ya know.”

We continued conversations for a while before we decided to stay for one more band.

Lauralee Faith and The Fat Wallet Blues

The band members of ODYSSEY and others joined us on the dance floor as Lauralee Faith and The Fat Wallet Blues came onstage. This band mainly consists of Lauralee Faith with instrumentalists changing through bookings in different regions as they honour the women that defined what we know as blues.

These musicians held a real Amy Winehouse and Aretha Franklin style and power. Their singer, Lauralee Faith, was an absolute powerhouse with her rustic vocals. With guitarist Pat O'Conner, bassist Jim Strange, Jethro and drummer John Retter working together on stage magically, I realised this group had a groove, a real groove to them. They knew how to get people excited and up and dancing.

During this band's set me and my friends were huddled in a booth laying over each other because these songs were serenading us and putting us into a trance. We bopped our heads and swayed our legs while they brought the house down in chunks. My friend Keith turned to me and said, “I'm so glad you got us to stay!” I smiled. I heard someone say recently, “a concert is nothing without the people you go with.” I can't agree more. While I truly believe you can enjoy music alone, sharing it with the people you love creates a whole new experience, one you can really reminisce on. As my friends start dancing with the tens of people on the dance floor, I realise that this is all I ever wanted. This is all I want to do. What I need to do. I love writing, I love describing and painting a picture of a scene so here I am, trying to zone in on every single detail so I can write it down later. I took zero notes while there (did not help me) all of this is memory and an email or two to Gatsby’s Skyline to get some more info...

Conclusion

There are many music venues in WA but few have the charm that Gatsby’s Skyline holds. If you want a truly unforgettable and timeless experience, you know where to go. It's no wonder why Gatsbys Skyline won a 2024 Global Recognition Award for their contributions to the music industry and community of Manjimup. This place shows such love, such life. I highly recommend checking it out when you need a new scene.

I just want to end by giving thanks to Joy and Greg Hamlyn for their kindness and help in writing this article, and thank you to my friends and every group that played that night.

Thank you for all your support and for making it to the end of this article!

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Written, published and photographed by Matthew Phillips

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