Totally rocked by women's bands
By Corinne Glenn
PERTH — "Totally Frocked" on March 15 was a special night for West Australian women in rock. Sixteen performances by woman-fronted or all-women bands were held in three rooms at the Grosvenor Hotel, and there was something for everyone, including fans of classical, acoustic and even medieval acts.
Some of the highlights were the female duo Apartment 25 with their dreamy ambience, and Sugar Child, who played a tight set of their distinctive dark rock. Natalie Repepi and Kathy Taylor performed their acoustic folk and rock mix well, as always, and woman-fronted Aisling performed a strong and flawless set of Indie rock.
The night was centred on one band — Butternut, a trio of some of the best known women performers in Perth. This, their second performance, captivated the audience with their mix of youth and experience blended into a powerful set of moody pop/rock.
All-women bands receive little publicity and fewer gigs in Perth. The fact that only three of the 11 acts in the two main rooms were all-women bands testifies to the male-dominated nature of the gig scene. Totally Frocked was a step in the right direction.