Leading Australian musical acts including Renee Geyer, Ross Wilson and the Black Sorrows are among those awaiting payment for recent performances at The Palais which will close on Sunday. 

Last week The Courier reported that lease negotiations for the landmark venue had broken down and Matt Goodison and Korinna Glen would leave after 21 months.

The building’s owners have decided to sell the property as vacant possession at an upcoming auction. 

Promoter Duane McDonald said promised payment plans for recent events had not been fulfilled and performers were out of pocket for expenses including travel, accommodation and salaries for musicians. 

“These are very large sums of money for some performers and this situation has been going on for some months,” he said. 

“A lot of agencies and promoters have been burned by the current operators and I am not optimistic that there is going to be a good resolution considering the business is struggling.” 

He said musicians and performers depended on timely payment from venues for their livelihood and payment guarantees in the music industry operated on trust between all parties. 

The Palais has faced mixed fortunes over recent decades, with the venue closing for six months for renovations in 2011.

Mr Goodison he would welcome any direct contact from promoters owed money by the business. 

“Promoters, artists and venues need to work together to come up with a better formula for presenting live music at venues,” he said. 

“The present structure of the way bands and acts are promoted and paid is not working for venues.” 

Mr Goodison said residents and supporters of the venue had reacted with disbelief to news of its latest closure.

thomas.mcilroy@thecourier.com.au