Location: 363 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch
Current status: Closed. The Dux brand continues through Dux Central on Poplar Street.
Active: December 2011 – 2016
History
Dux Live was the post-earthquake successor to the Dux de Lux, Christchurch’s much-loved Arts Centre brewpub and live music venue that had operated since 1978. When the 22 February 2011 Canterbury earthquake caused severe structural damage to the Arts Centre complex, the original venue on Worcester Boulevard was forced to close after 33 years. Rather than wait indefinitely for the heritage building to be remediated, founder Richard Sinke and manager Ross Herrick moved quickly to establish a new venue.
In late 2011, a converted warehouse at 363 Lincoln Road in Addington became Dux Live. The owners invested 40% of the build budget in acoustic treatment and a state-of-the-art KV2 sound system hung from the ceiling. The stage was the architectural centrepiece, with a mezzanine level providing viewing from above. A yakitori kitchen and the Dux beer range ensured continuity with the original, while a capacity of 300 made it larger than the Arts Centre’s front room.
Beastwars played a free inaugural show on 16 December 2011. Guitar Wolf, Mountaineater, and An Emerald City followed in early 2012. RDU’s Round Up band competition was held at the venue in 2012, 2013, and 2014, with Ipswich taking out the prize in 2012. NZ Musician praised the sound quality and the owners’ commitment to original music. Monsta Machine were among the local acts captured in the Flickr photos reproduced here.
Dux Live closed in 2016. Dux Dine had opened in Riccarton in 2012, and Dux Central on Poplar Street followed in 2015 — the brand’s enduring presence in Christchurch’s hospitality scene, even as the Lincoln Road venue fell quiet.
