One man’s passion for music keeps this venue alive
Owner of Nivara Lounge and live music enthusiast, Ivan Muir shares his love for live gigs and why he believes smaller scale venues are important to the community.
Owner of Nivara Lounge and live music enthusiast, Ivan Muir shares his love for live gigs and why he believes smaller scale venues are important to the community.
In 1997 Ivan opened the underground venue on Victoria Street central Hamilton as ‘JBC’, an abbreviated name for ‘’Jazz, Blues, and Concept”. In 2000 he said goodbye to the business due to a decline in clientele because of competition from the internet – namely YouTube.
Two years later he got back in touch with the building owners. After failed nightclubs and other attempts to utilise the venue, Ivan re-opened the venue in 2014 as ‘Nivara Lounge’.
On average Nivara Lounge holds 200-220 gigs a year, Ivan explains that Nivara is only able to do so many gigs a year due to being a smaller scale venue.
Over the course of the past eight years, Wednesday nights are dedicated to ‘Open mic’ and Thursday nights to ‘Local artists live’, alongside many other inclusive events to suit various crowds.
Ivan runs the business mostly by himself, and describes himself to be a “one man band”. Through all the work and event organising, he believes it’s all worth it to end the night enjoying live music. He explains “it’s great to see older bands reforming or doing something different and younger bands emerging”.
Growing up with five sisters who influenced him to experience live music and festivals is where his passion began. In the 80’s and 90’s Ivan managed bands and bookings for venues even though he doesn’t create music himself.
“I own all the musical equipment, but I don’t know how to play any of it.”
Massey University is conducting a study on Nivara Lounge. Financed by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, the University is researching how beneficial smaller-sized venues are to societies well-being. Ivan explains that venues like his own generate opportunities for artists everywhere, smaller style places encourage people to connect, alongside giving people an affordable outlet to enjoy live music. Ivan explains “It’s a very good stepping stone for talent and it’s an outlet for people who don’t do it as a profession”.
Ivan Muir truly inspires growing artists to pursue their dreams by providing an outlet to perform at Nivara Lounge. From his own experience, Ivan believes smaller scale venues play an important part in promoting talent throughout the community.
