We get in the mood for this Making Gravy mini-festival thanks to various branded boards scattered around Sidney Myer Music Bowl, some featuring lyrics from How To Make Gravy. There's also a collection of 'street signs' on top of the hill directing us "To Her Door", "From St Kilda" etc.  

First up, Gretta Ray presents her glorious presence and pipes, unleashing with free movement and gestures during Unwind. Ray says Paul Kelly's music "grew [her] up" before performing her first-ever single Unexpected Feeling, admitting afterwards that a lot of her songs are about relationships. We're then treated to a new song Ray introduces as Dressing Gown and it's luxurious with a hint of sass - unlike anything she's done to date. Her closer Drive veers toward country-pop territory and this artist is definitely going places.

Meg Mac rocks a four-piece backing band plus two backing vocalists these days and channels Adam Ant through her fashion choices. She completely owns it from the outset and throughout with that killer voice - such confidence! Her powerful, "Aaaaah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah," notes float by on the breeze during Grace Gold. Then the wind picks up and Mac takes off her trademark wide-brimmed black hat as a precautionary measure before Grandma's Hands, which opens and closes with the entire band clapping out a unison pattern. Just, wow, to Mac's flawless voice! Disclosure need to get her in for a feat. She's definitely a pacer, wandering from side to side across the front of the stage to eyeball as many punters as possible. We would like to see her pause and simmer for a bit to mix it up, however.

They've had quite the year and Gang Of Youths explode onto the stage delivering a string of bangers in quick succession like a one-two-three punch. Showman-frontman Dave Le'aupepe is all about audience engagement and his expressive eyes draw us in. "This is our favourite place to play in the whole of Australia," Le'aupepe claims (does he say this everywhere?). "If it wasn't for Paul Kelly, I wouldn't have written this song, ey?" is how Le'aupepe introduces The Deepest Sighs, The Frankest Shadows, adding, "I know it sounds sycophantic, but..." These songs are so steeped in meaning and emotion that it's impossible not to be 100% captivated. Drummer Donnie Borzestowski is seated in profile, which gives is clear insight into his mad skills. Le'aupepe leaps into the crowd and does a lap around to the sound desk and then back onto the stage - such an arena-ready superstar! Punters actually storm the aisles for Let Me Down Easy and Le'aupepe sans guitar is a majestic beast. Those dance moves - some chorey even borrowed from Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - are fierce and the crowd loses it. We won't stop believing. This band will be huge.

Paul Kelly's set builds beautifully, opening with Life Is Fine solo while those in the Bowl rudely continue to chat until he welcomes "the eldest son of [his] eldest brother" Dan to the stage for From St Kilda To Kings Cross. Then Kelly's entire backing ensemble takes the stage for Rising Moon. Kelly utilises the same band configuration as Mac: four-piece band plus those incomparable sisters Vika & Linda Bull on BVs. "Steve doesn't walk the earth with us anymore, but he's always in this song with us," is how Kelly introduces Before Too Long, explaining his guitarist of seven years, Steve Connolly, supplied many of his favourite guitar "parts" over the years. You can tell Dan particularly loves playing the guitar solo in this song - such cheeky riffs! And we adore singing along with these lyrics, especially, "Any dog can win," which is delivered in full voice.

Kelly admits some of his male friends weren't too happy to hear one of his new songs, My Man's Got A Cold. Vika Bull takes lead vocals on this one with her sister Linda dropping a bucket filled with percussion to dramatic effect on the beat and it's a standout moment. These new songs slot in easily among old faves, which speaks to the quality of Kelly's first-ever Australian number one album Life Is Fine that contains many instant classics. Kelly brings the harmonica out to open Love Never Runs On Time. That riff during To Her Door is opportunistic, like a not-half-bad stranger raising their eyebrows at you from across the bar. The double-header of Leap And Bounds - during which it's so fun to sing, "I'm high on the hill, looking over the bridge to the MCG," given our current geographic coordinates - and Dumb Things is genius. Bull sisters, we are in awe of your synchronised moves as well as your vocal prowess. Kelly admits he "can't think of a better place" for the last show of his touring leg than "right here" at the Bowl.  

That dirty Darling It Hurts riff gets us going in the first encore (only Kelly could get away with rhyming "hurts" with "'hurst") and this song is always welcome. Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air a cappella is moving beyond belief and the Bull sisters' harmonies elevate our souls, Kelly himself pointing out the magic that's created when siblings sing together. We score a second encore and, thank god for that! We're aching to hear From Little Things Big Things Grow. Christmas came early this year. What a treat!