Satchmo’s Winebar Bistro

43 Gigs

335 Chapel Rd South

Bankstown, NSW

Satchmo’s was a popular Winebar Bistro located at 335 Chapel Rd South, Bankstown.

 It operated for approximately 2 years from July 1975 until about mid-1977(?) 6 days a week (Mon-Sat) and featured live entertainment every night.

Initially trading from 11am – 10pm, patron demand quickly had the owners extending their license to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

 At its peak (75/76), Satchmo’s was literally packed to the rafters every Friday and Saturday night with the bar staff flat out trying to keep up with the supply of jugs of Cider or Spumante & Orange  to thirsty customers. Especially during the summer months when the air conditioning was so overwhelmed by the numbers, that streams of condensation continually ran down the walls!

 Although Satchmo’s was set up as a ‘smooth’ Jazz bar (hence the name) it soon began to diversify its entertainment offerings, when it was found that local mainstream music acts proved to be much bigger drawcards on the weekends. This included ‘Agnes Banks’ (a rock & roll band) who managed to secure an audition within a month of Satchmo’s opening and ended up becoming the venues ‘semi-resident’ band for most of the bars first year of existence, helping to turn it into one of the most popular venues in the area! (The feature shot is a promotional photo of band taken under the Satchmo signage in 1975. The band also held its single launch there) 

 There were many acts who also contributed to the success of Satchmo’s including regular DJs/Compares John Diffin & Neil Markwick who went under the pseudonym ‘The Pappy Show’ (and also broadcast on 2SWS).