Live Review: Josh Pyke, Winterbourne

The wave of epic storms rolling across Sydney make holding an outdoor series of concerts a challenge, but the stage was set for a Friday afternoon summer session in one of the most picturesque settings on Sydney Harbour.

NSW Central Coast band Winterbourne are the warm-up act for the show. Despite the fact we were warm enough, their chilled and occasionally rollicking tunes were a perfect way to get us in the mood as we loaded up on cheese, crackers and beer. The onstage banter was entertaining as were their songs. Despite declaring that they were "ruining the view", they prompted plenty of head-nodding with brand new tracks from an upcoming album and suited the picnic-rug-vibe well.

It’s only been ten years since Middle Of The Hill, but Josh Pyke feels like a nice well loved blanket. His voice (and his beard) are immediately recognisable and his tunes are well crafted gems.

Book Of Revelations, the first track off his fifth album commenced the evening. This began a back and forwards trek through Pyke's old and new catalogue. Old favourites, Memories & Dust and The Lighthouse Song (with added swearing for the kiddies) sat alongside newer tracks Still Some Big Deal and the excellent Be Your Boy.

Pyke has an amiable nature about him. Quick to engage with the audience and modest enough to recognise his mistakes, his call for new Facebook friends garnered hundreds more ‘Likes’ and it’s refreshing to see an artist appreciate new and old fans alike.

We sang along to Make You Happy and Middle Of tTe Hill before Pyke and his band finished off with the antithesis of the evening, Warm In Winter. A strict time curfew meant we missed a final track, but the 20-plus-song set was sufficient for us to trek back across the harbour with a warm (and humid) smile on our dials.