Live Review: Pete Cullen - Brisbane Powerhouse

The Turbine Platform has turned into an impromptu Sunday school lesson for all things traditional folk as singer/guitarist Steve Towson, with fiddle, flute and cello accompaniment from The Kunkala Station Band, keenly conveys the tales of bygone eras. Kicking off with The Ballad Of 1891, the central Queensland shearer's strike of the day is brought to life with Towson's vivid portrayal. He also stops by Mudgee to recall a lively instrumental fling of the region, the Torres Strait, and back to a 19th century river city with an intriguing rendition of Brisbane Ladies. Moving from the calmer end of the folk spectrum, Towson and his band get toes tapping with a quick Irish jig, complete with tin whistle, and offer something for everyone by visiting some of the more popular traditional folk songs Will The Circle Be Unbroken and Whiskey In The Jar. Towson's enthusiasm for the genre is both infectious and admirable; teamed with his natural flare for storytelling through performance, he is at once an educator and an entertainer.

Noosa local Pete Cullen, formerly of bluesy rock outfit The Daybridges, has finally surfaced with a debut solo record Tom Whisky Blues which he is showcasing today. “You can download it from iTunes,” he tells the audience sheepishly, having forgotten to bring any for the merch desk. “You can ask my mum, I've always had a bad memory – it's only good for one thing and that's singing.” Luckily Cullen is correct, as he proves with a swagger that falls somewhere in between his trucker cap and western shirt styling on album highlight Coffee House. Cullen and his backing band keep the pace going early, shuffling confidently through Deadman's Bones and Tombstone Rider before slowing it down with some rimmed drums and lingering guitar licks. The set highlight comes in the form of Saltwater Man, Cullen's dedication to the life of troubled Australian surfing champion Michael Peterson. It's a less frivolous affair that comes to life with a full band sound as big drums and western guitar strums almost bring the smell of the ocean to the Powerhouse. Implementing tools from the rock, blues and country toolkits, Cullen is a jack-of-all-trades, and a highly entertaining one at that.