Caloundra West: The Superjesus front-woman Sarah McLeod (pictured) will headline an all-female line up at Norton Music Factory on Saturday night.
She joins The Voice winner Karise Eden and a host of talented women who rock, including 14-year-old Sunshine Coast native Layla Barnett.
Venue owner Liam Norton said in an industry “heavily stacked with males” he wanted to highlight that women could make good music too.
“I thought this would be a good way to celebrate the awesome female talent we’ve got in Australia,” he said.
And it seems it’s also a case of life imitating art when it comes to why Mr Norton decided on the “all-pink” music bill.
“I’m the father of three daughters so that might have something to do with it.”
Even better, it’s all for charity with proceeds from the night going towards Strong Women Talking which helps Indigenous women in domestic violence situations.
It’s not the first time the Nortons have helped charities, raising more than $30,000 since they opened as a live music venue three years ago.
Norton Music Factory is located in an industrial estate in Caloundra West and runs on volunteers.
It has two clear objectives: to help the disadvantaged and support live music.
“It’s our way of giving back,” he said.
“We want to make sure artists get paid.
“If we don’t help the next generation create magic and entertainment, who will?
“It will all be AI-generated rubbish.”
It’s where Mr Norton housed his electrical business and custom guitar shop, before it evolved into a two-stage arena, capabale of holding up to 400 people.
What started as a staff Christmas party morphed into more, when an artist from the party asked to use the venue for a film clip.
“We’re not a pub, we’re not a dive bar, it’s different,” he said.
“It’s a friendly, easy going place which people keep coming back for.”
Tickets to Women On Top 2023: https://www.eventbrite.com.au.
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