HUGH FOSTER: A NEW ERA FOR THE BEAUMONT BRISBANE
Hugh Foster has spent almost two decades at the heart of Australia’s electronic music and nightlife scene, working as a promoter, venue owner, talent buyer and artist manager.
From helping launch early careers of artists including Flume, Peking Duk, Dom Dolla and RÜFÜS DU SOL, to his influential decade at The MET Brisbane and more recently Eclipse Brisbane, Hugh has built a reputation for bringing major Australian and international talent to the stage.
Now, he takes on his latest challenge as Entertainment Director of The Beaumont Brisbane, a new dual-level entertainment precinct in Fortitude Valley combining a 700-capacity rooftop, an 800-capacity main room and high-end production.
With three new house event brands — ECHO, Wobble and Panorama — Hugh is bringing his own vision to the venue, kicking off with Panorama 001 featuring Will Sparks on August 29.
Alongside The Beaumont, Hugh continues his work with RevelryMgmt, managing a roster of established and emerging electronic artists.
We caught up with Hugh to discover more about his career, his vision for The Beaumont and what he believes is next for Brisbane’s ever-evolving nightlife scene.
1. Hugh, you’ve been part of Australia’s electronic music and nightlife industry for around two decades. What was it about The Beaumont Brisbane that made you want to take on the role of Entertainment Director at this stage of your career?
I wanted to get to a point where I could take everything I’ve learned across artists, venues and events and build something from the ground up. The Beaumont has the scale, production and ambition to do something genuinely different in Brisbane. For me, it’s about creating entertainment brands and experiences that can become part of the city’s music culture for the next decade.
2. You’ve worked across venues including Trinity Bar in Canberra, The MET Brisbane and most recently Eclipse. What have those experiences taught you about what makes a venue become more than just a place to see a DJ or live act?
People don’t just remember the DJ — they remember the entire experience. The sound, production, atmosphere, crowd, staff and identity of a venue all contribute to that. The Beaumont needs to have a reason for people to choose us, and that’s why we’re building distinct brands and experiences rather than simply putting DJs on posters.
3. The Beaumont is certainly making a statement with its dual-level concept, featuring a 700-capacity rooftop and an 800-capacity main room. What was the vision behind creating two very different entertainment experiences within the one venue?
We wanted to create two completely different worlds under one roof. The rooftop can be social, open air with a sunset set, while the main room can become darker, louder and more immersive. It also gives us the ability to create concepts like Panorama, where an artist can showcase two completely different sides of their musical identity on the same day.
4. The venue has made a significant investment in production, including the D&B Audiotechnik sound system and a huge 4K LED visual wall. How important is technology and production in creating the kind of live experience audiences now expect?
It’s incredibly important, but technology should always serve the music. Audiences have experienced world-class production at festivals and clubs globally, so the standard has changed. Our D&B system, 4K LED wall, lighting and production give us the tools to create genuinely world-class experiences in Brisbane.
5. You’re launching three house-curated brands — ECHO, Wobble and Panorama. Can you take us behind those concepts and explain what you want each brand to represent?
ECHO is our house & techno platform, focused on the world’s biggest and most exciting artists in that space. Wobble represents bass culture — from dubstep and drum & bass through to bass house. Panorama is about experiencing the full spectrum of an artist, giving them the freedom to play a different side of their music during the day before delivering their signature sound at night.
6. Panorama 001 launches on August 29 with Will Sparks performing two sets — a rooftop sunset set followed by a late-night main-room experience. What can audiences expect from seeing the same artist in two completely different environments on the same night?
That’s what makes Panorama different. Rather than putting an artist into one musical box, we’re giving them the freedom to explore their catalogue and influences across two completely different environments. Will Sparks will essentially tell two different stories in one day — with both performances taking place in immersive 360-degree DJ booths surrounded by the crowd.
7. You’ve played an important role in helping emerging Australian artists break through, having been involved with acts such as Flume, Peking Duk, Dom Dolla and RÜFÜS DU SOL in their earlier stages. What do you look for when you see an artist who you believe has the potential to become a major name?
Talent is only one part of it. I’m looking for identity, work ethic and professionalism — artists who have something unique to say and are genuinely obsessed with improving. I also want The Beaumont to provide a pathway for emerging artists to develop and eventually share the stage with the biggest names in the world.
8. Alongside your venue work, you’re also the Founding Director of RevelryMgmt. How does artist management influence the way you approach talent buying and programming a venue like The Beaumont?
Management broadens my understanding of what artists need from a venue beyond the fee. I think about the relationship between the artist, the audience and the brand, and whether we’re creating the right environment for everyone. Ultimately, I want artists to know that playing The Beaumont means they’ll be properly looked after and presented at the highest possible level.
9. Brisbane’s nightlife and music scene has changed considerably over the past 10 to 20 years. From your perspective, where is Brisbane heading now, and what do you think the city needs to continue attracting major international and Australian artists?
Brisbane has developed an incredible electronic music audience and is producing artists operating at a global level. The next step is having venues capable of presenting those artists with genuinely world-class sound, production and audiences. I want The Beaumont to help make Brisbane a city that international artists genuinely want to play, rather than simply another stop on an Australian tour.
10. Finally, if you could describe your vision for The Beaumont in one sentence, what do you want people to say about the venue after they’ve experienced it for the first time?
“That felt like something I could have experienced anywhere in the world — but it happened in Brisbane.”
That’s the standard we’re chasing: the biggest artists wanting to play here, emerging artists wanting to earn their place here, and audiences knowing they’re going to experience something exceptional.
