505

505 is a jazz venue that puts on gigs every Monday and Wednesday night. It's actually an apartment, home to jazz bassist Cameron Undy. He's been putting on shows in his home for a few years now, and the crowd has grown by word of mouth alone. 505 doesn't advertise and its address is kept secret.


Tonight I caught trumpeters Scott Tinkler and Phil Slater, with Steve Elphick on bass and Simon Barker on drums. The Darts, as they are collectively known, put on a great show, largely playing free and exploring the outer reaches of their instruments, particularly the trumpet.


Despite being an apartment, 505 easily seats the many guests in its expansive, comfortably lighted room. It's the kind of apartment people wish to find before gentrification sets in entirely, an open Warhol Factory, rough around the edges but welcoming.


Get in early to grab a chair, or just snag a cushion on the floor and bottle of wine.


The name 505 comes from the apartment number, but the street address is kept secret. The place sits above a courtyard in a well graffitied building in Surry Hills. I discovered it through a friend at work. If you're ever in Sydney, I'll let you know how to find it.