King Parrot - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 10th October @ Norton Music Factory, Caloundra QLD

King Parrot
Norton Music Factory, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast
October 10, 2025
Support: Goat Shaman, Gudgeon and Leaker‍

Fresh from their recent tour across the US, supporting Pantera and Amon Amarth on The Heaviest Tour of The Summer and rearing to go, King Parrot have hit the ground running on their latest Aussie tour, continuing celebrations for their latest release A Young Persons Guide to King Parrot.

Self-described as Australian grindcore metal artists, the band from Melbourne have left fans frothing for more since forming in 2010. While these Melbourne legends have not stopped making the music, this is their first studio album since Ugly Produce, released in 2017 and the latest release after their EP Holed UP In The Lair, released in 2020.

First stop – South East Queensland - Sunshine Coast! 

We have such an amazing bunch of music venues and local bands and micro music scenes and such a variety on offer its worth getting out and adventuring to some of these places. Venturing out of my home town to check out some of SEQ best venues and bands and headed up to Norton Music Factory to catch the show.

Norton Music Venue is this great little venue in Caloundra West, tucked away in an industrial area, driving down the street past the venue lit up like a Christmas tree, the sound of drums and guitar for sound check filling the air. Food Trucks out the front with some really great menu options (and surprisingly well priced) and a tea and coffee machine (my night was made right here with a cup of tea!). For Gold Coasters – think Burleigh Bazaar type of vibe. The other best part – a bar rack full of really nice spirits – not that horrible house crap a lot of places serve – this was quality! You can see from the get go they really care about their venue and patrons. 

First band of the night was Leaker. The 4 piece Brisbane band made the drive up to open to the show and show off their new debut album Happy Hour. Having burst onto the stage in 2023, a heavy noise rockfish vibe with a whole lot of energy and a sense of humour. Think The King Lizard/Totally Unicorn type vibe. Treating the crowd with songs such as ‘Wrong’ and ‘Eyes’ they were a wonderful blend of heavy and groovy. If you can scream and I can groove you’ve won me over.

Next up – Gudgeon! Sunshine Coast locals - there is much more to this dynamic duo than meets the eyes. They don’t fit into any box. Think Shellac, TISM, noise metal punk fusion type vibe with an attitude of brutal no sugar coated honesty. These sunshine coast locals released their second album  earlier this year.

Kicking off their set in a red sea of lights, smoke haze, an ironing board, a slide guitar a bass and a drum kit. If you haven’t seen these guys live before the ironing board may confuse you. In my mind it has to be a pretty awesome set when there is an ironing board involved! (No there was no iron!). Dave on the ironing board with a bass and slide, and Mick on drums, together with a side of heckled banter, they delivered a 25 minute set of fast paced hard hitting shock and awe like ‘GateKeeper’, ‘Sucked Through’, to the haunting vocals and melody of ‘Black and Blue’.

The penultimate of band of the night was Goat Shaman. Featuring incoming King Parrot drummer Max Dangerfield, the band has also recently excited fans with their new album Monkey Palace, released back in June 2025. It’s the first new music since the release of their self titled EP Goat Shaman. Hailing from Melbourne this awesome foursome definitely left their mark. Synchronised head bangs, heavy riffs, and heavy vocals with a groove you could still move to. With Alex Cossey on bass/vocals rocking a kind of heavy Mick Jagger/Steve Tyler vibe, throwing out screams like it was as easy as a whisper. Vocals/Guitarists Ryan Vanderkolk and Billy Beaumont-Thomas each taking their turns at equally spectacular screaming. They are far from new to the scene, forming way back in 2018.  If you get a chance check them out. 

Saving the best for last, the night that was King Parrot. Waiting in the wings back stage, as the lights dim, turn red and from the speakers starts blaring the voice of Pauline Hanson with Simon Hunt's hilarious track ‘I Don’t Like It’. One by one each of the band members make their way onto the stage having a little boogie as they move towards their designated spots. As the voice of Pauline Pantsdown fades into the back ground the first few bars of noise take over, a quick hello from Matt 'Youngy' Young to the crowd, it then erupts in an explosion of energy.

These days circlepits and moshes are not for the small or fainthearted. Random body slamming and helicopter arms with Bruce Lee kicks seem to the norm these days with little concern about who they are taking down in the process. King Parrot has the most polite and thoughtful circlepit and stage diving I've ever seen or been able to be part of and not go ass over 6 or get sent flying – qudos to the boys!

One great thing to see during the show was their sense of Aussie humour. Heckling the crowd (respectfully with light hearted banter) and the crowd heckling back, telling us we should be better than Nambour, the crowd throwing friendly shade on Melbourne and Melbournites, it was actually really refreshing to see some hilarious Aussie banter between the band and the crowd. 

So now we are about half way through the set, Youngy, in between songs, looks into the crowd points his finger and says get up here – pointing to Mick Gudgeon from Gudgeon. So Mick climbs up on to the stage, Youngy tells him to get ready for a stage dive “This will be the first stage dive of the new album!” The crowd counts him down and as the first few bars of ‘Get What You’re Givin’ starts he flings off the stage and onto the waiting crowd hands all ready to catch him, moving him over the top of the crowd until the ride was over and he touched the floor. Far from done, Youngy motioned for another punter to have a go. So one at time a few over the moon fans go to get up on the stage with the big boys and fling themselves off the stage. No fuss just pure music fun. 

Playing old faves and new tunes with the fans bouncing around and screaming along with the lyrics. This was a crowd who was having the time of their lives. 

The next thing you knew the hour was gone; the show was over but not before ending it with a pretty sick explosion from the pyro cannons. Everyone coming to back to reality and making their way out of the venue, via the merch desk and on their way home. 

Top night for everyone.

Review & Gallery by Bec O'Reilly @bec.belles. Please credit Wall Of Sound and Bec O'Reilly if you repost photos.

The tour continues in November - suss dates and tickets here