The first Bar Loose was founded in 2002 a couple of blocks away from today’s location and it found immediately its place in our capital’s nightlife map. Rockers, hipsters, media mongers and local people gathered there night after night, making old Bar Loose a legendary rock’n’roll joint in the middle of Helsinki City. It was a relaxed and cool living room, where you could always hear good music – and from time to time even saw cool live shows by bands like The Flaming Sideburns or Nieminen & Litmanen. Small shows made Bar Loose’s founders see there was an obvious demand for a live rock club in downtown Helsinki.
In 2009 Bar Loose got evicted, but the new premises were found around the block. The restaurant’s regular customers actually carried most of the old furniture to the new bar with their bare hands. The interior was inspired by the original Bar Loose and most of the paintings and decorations were done by the same crew who created the old bar.
New Bar Loose opened 31st January 2009, in Annankatu 21, Helsinki. It is bigger, bolder and more spacious. The main difference to the old Loose is that the new Loose can be divided into three different bars: the street-level lounge Bar Loose, the smaller Café Loose, and Club Loose, the live venue downstairs.
It didn’t take long for Club Loose to take its place as one of the best live clubs in Helsinki. During the years Bar Loose has hosted thousands of live artists, like The Adolescents, Von Herzen Brothers, Reverend Beatman, Moneybrother, Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät and The Bellrays.
In 2013, Bar Loose’s long-awaited “little sister” was born. The sidekick restaurant Bar Loosister (www.barloosister.fi ) was opened in the bohemic Kallio-district in Helsinki (Hämeentie 50). At Bar Loosister you can enjoy the old school taste of old Bar Loose: the original jukebox found its place there and the interior is very similar to the old joint. Bar Loosister does not have live music, but its strength is good solid food and a great atmosphere.