Squeaky Clean owner Jonathan Murphy is celebrating with a laneway festival. Photo: Squeaky Clean.
Squeaky Clean is celebrating its second birthday with a laneway festival they’ve dubbed Squeakout 2: 2 Squeaky 2 Furious. The party will feature live music, DJs, games, food trucks, and plenty of Squeaky’s own Death Pasito (more on that later).
Squeaky Clean owner Jono Murphy told Region that the hospitality industry is still recovering post-COVID, so it’s no small feat that they’ve made it to their second birthday.
“Having a small independent bar survive two years, I think, is a bit of an achievement. The only reason it has come this far is the community, and Canberra saying, ‘Yeah, we like what you’re doing’,” Jonno said.
“We want to celebrate it ourselves, but it’s also an opportunity to give back to everyone who’s come through the doors. It’s a free event, no tickets, you don’t have to buy anything, but there’s the opportunity to have the day with your mates, your friends and family out in the street.
“We want to put on something special for everyone.”
The event, sponsored by Jägermeister, will run from midday to 11 pm in Verity Lane. Photo: Facebook.
Region has previously described Squeaky Clean as a “surprisingly wholesome dive bar”, and this laneway festival aims to live up to those wholesome vibes. Following feedback from last year’s event, where people expressed interest in bringing their kids to the daytime festivities, the second birthday celebrations will feature a dedicated kids’ disco tent with games like Twister.
The Soul Defender truck will feature live music from local acts such as Night City Psychos, alt-punk rockers Degenerate, Jindabyne punk outfit The Pingers, and ska bands Doxxed and The Reserve Skank of Australia.
Berra Bars – a local hip hop collective who are regulars at Squeaky – will be performing too.
There will also be a couple of DJs playing throughout the event, and Jonno has teased the appearance of a mystery band. He wouldn’t be drawn on details, but offered the tidbit that they are “Canberra music royalty.”
The Soul Defender truck is a mobile stage and instant party starter. Photo: James Coleman.
Texas-style Bare Bones BBQ, late-night favourites The Dog House hotdogs, and banh mi truck Banme will supply food. Unscripted Fermentation will be slinging kombucha, coffee and espresso martinis all day.
And, of course, Squeaky Clean will be serving their signature drink: the Death Pasito.
How to describe death pasito? It’s like hard Solo, but pasito. And it’s 6 per cent instead of 4.5 per cent.
(Pasito, of course, being a passionfruit-flavoured soda.)
As for what comes after the birthday celebrations? Jonno didn’t have any concrete plans to share, but says it’s all about sticking to their ethos.
“We want to keep supporting creatives in Canberra. That’s what makes a city liveable, exciting and interesting.”
Squeakout 2: 2 Squeaky 2 Furious is a free event on Saturday, 22 November, from midday to 11 pm (Squeaky Clean Bar is open upstairs until 2 am) in Verity Lane, Canberra City.
