The details, in daylight
Holding Absence played 170 Russell in Melbourne on 16 August 2026. This show has already taken place — see Holding Absence's page on KeenToGo for their upcoming dates.
Melbourne's underground bunker of a club on Russell Street — 1,050 capacity, pin-sharp sound, and a booking policy that spans techno royalty to touring indie. Holding Absence is a rock act.
Asked about the venue
About 170 Russell
Was 170 Russell previously called Billboard?
Yes — the basement room at 170–190 Russell Street traded as Billboard from 1980 to 2014 before relaunching under its street address as 170 Russell. The space has been a Melbourne nightlife fixture since 1965, when it opened as the Lido, later becoming the Total Theatre.
What is the capacity of 170 Russell?
170 Russell holds 1,050 people — a basement room in the heart of Melbourne with three bars and, by the venue’s own proud claim, stage sightlines from anywhere in the room. Big enough for a proper crowd, small enough that nobody needs binoculars.