The Station: The Sunshine Coast Live Music Venue Thriving In The Midst Of Chaos

It’s no secret that live music venues are doing it tough right now. In Queensland alone, we’ve lost The Zoo and It’s Still A Secret, while others like The Bearded Lady and Elixir Music House are on the verge of closure. But there’s one venue that stands out in the midst of the chaos - The Station. Located in the Sunshine Coast, the independent venue is still selling out gigs - despite the concerning trend of punters choosing to stay home. So, in a cost-of-living crisis, a venue crisis, and a live music crisis, how is The Station staying afloat?

We caught up with owner Chris Hignett to tell us more.

Tell us about The Station!

The Station is a place where people can come together to enjoy great music, good food, and a welcoming atmosphere! We’ve worked really hard to create a space that feels like home - whether you’re here to see a live band, catch up with friends, or just enjoy a night out. We love supporting local artists and businesses, and it’s been amazing to see the community embrace what we’re trying to do in the past 12 months!

Why do you think you won Accessible Venue of the Year at the Sunshine Coast Music Awards? What are you doing differently?

Winning that award was a huge honour, and honestly, it just comes down to doing what we believe is right. Everyone deserves to experience live music without barriers, so we’ve made sure The Station is as accessible as possible. Yes we have the ramps, accessible facilities, disabled parking etc but we also partner with great companies and organisations such as Cérge so people can experience the venue virtually, then communicate directly with us so they can share information such as approximate arrival time, any particular needs or concerns ahead of time.

Before we even opened, we had Spinal Life tour the venue and share insights into how we can be more welcoming to our guests. We sent some of our team to training to experience life through the lens of the special needs community.  There’s always more work to do, and we are focused on delivering amazing experiences for all.

In general, why do you think you guys are doing so well, in an era when most venues are struggling?

Firstly, the struggle is real. We believe our venue is a really important part of the Sunshine Coast and our local community. Thankfully, the local industry, residents, and council are engaged with the success of our space and we look to them for feedback and insights into how we can do better everyday. Simply put, we need to consistently deliver great experiences. We are an independent family owned venue and we put our heart into everything - from the burgers you get in our bar bites menu, to the programming of our stages, to the riders we give to artists, the sound systems and experiences for the crews bumping in and out. We want everybody who visits our venue to say how great a time they had.

What are the biggest issues The Station is facing at the moment? Do you think most venues are experiencing the same struggles?

Like most venues, we’re feeling the effects of rising costs and unpredictable crowds - and lately, WEATHER. People have so many entertainment options these days, and with the cost of living going up, not everyone can afford to go out as much. It’s a challenge, but we’re doing our best to adapt - whether that’s by keeping ticket prices as fair as we can or making sure every show is a special experience that people really want to be part of.

What is it like, operating as an independent venue?

It’s definitely a labour of love. We have the freedom to create something unique, but we also carry all the responsibility that comes with it. There are no big budgets or safety nets - it’s just us, our team, and the community that supports us. It can be tough at times, but seeing people come together and enjoy what we’ve built makes it all worth it.

Why do you guys host so many all-ages gigs? Should this be a move that other venues consider?

We remember what it was like being young and wanting to see live music but not always having the chance. All-ages gigs give younger music fans an opportunity to experience live shows, and we think that’s really important. It helps build a strong music culture and creates lifelong supporters of live music. It builds the next generation of gig-goers and music lovers. If more venues could make it work, it would be great to see.

You've got some big shows coming up - tell us about them!

April is chock-a-block, just the way we like it! Ministry of Sound is nigh on sold out, Xavier Rudd is SUPER SOLD OUT, Beers, Boots & BBQ on April 20th with Lee Kernaghan and Lime Cordiale is SOLD OUT on April 26. Then, on May 8th, Alpha Wolf will be tearing up the stage in what is, surprisingly, our first metal gig, and on May 30th, we’ve got Old Mervs coming through, and adding to all of that, a Star Wars Day event on May 4th, Mother’s Day Festival May 11th, and so much more. Turns out it’s pretty epic having a space like we have - we can be pretty agile with what we book!

Why should punters come to The Station?

Because we genuinely love what we do, and we hope that comes across in everything from the music to the atmosphere. We’re not a big corporate venue - we’re just a group of people passionate about live music, great food, and creating a place where everyone feels welcome. We care about our artists, our crowd, and making sure every night here is one to remember - I literally stand at the gates at the end of the night, thanking people for coming to our venue.