Orange’s live music institution 4 on the 4loor celebrates 25 years this Saturday.

Over the 316-show history of the 4loor, the Victoria Hotel stage has hosted more than 1,260 performances of, mostly, local bands playing original music.

It was seeing the need for a venue that gave local bands the opportunity to play their own music that motivated, Jon Carter to found the monthly music showcase back in 1998.

“I was doing the bookings for the Vic at that time, and I did a band competition initially for what was then Apple FM,” Jon recalled.

“I realised that I knew a lot of people who could play, but weren't going to get a gig because the only places that had music you had to play for four hours and covers mainly too. Back then, that's pretty much all there was.

“So having come from the original music scene myself, I put two and five together and got 4 on the floor!” 

The 4 on the 4loor format has remained largely the same throughout the 25 years. Each month, the 4loor presents what Jon calls a “smorgasbord of music”, with anywhere from three to seven acts playing short sets of original music.

“And mostly local,” Jon said. “But once the word spread other Sydney bands want to come out here now; venues are getting thin on the ground down there, particularly for original music.

“But now the scene in orange is a lot healthier than it has been in a long while. There were times when pretty much the 4loor was the only place you could play original music. At least now there are some other venues letting it through the doors.”

Head to the Victoria Hotel, the “Home of the 4loor'' 8.30pm this Saturday, May 6 for 4 on the 4loor’s 25th-anniversary show, featuring: girls on sake, Sam Bucca, Bec, Ado!, Amber, and The Kenny Feather Band.