Live Review: Ngaiire, Twin Beasts, Grizzly Jim Lawrie

Tonight's showcase for the Australasian Worldwide Music Expo (AWME) finds music industry types and music lovers letting their hair down after a busy day of networking by checking out this rather diverse trio of featured artists. Melbourne singer-songwriter Grizzly Jim Lawrie gets the night off to a mellow start with his deceptively simple songs that favour honesty instead of in-your-face gimmicks. The one-time drummer for Eagle & The Worm evokes cruisey, late-night vibes on the Neil Young-esque standout Midnight Run.

The Toot Toot Toots have morphed into Twin Beasts because they claim that a toot is slang for passing wind. In any case, there is certainly something in the air tonight as the outfit enliven The Toff with their distinctive brand of country-inspired rock. While Lawrie's tunes are a comedown around the campfire after a long day on the range, Twin Beasts offer a celebratory hoedown that brings the crowd to their feet. At times it seems that the band is having even more fun than many of their fans who are eager to dance the night away. Shrill blasts of brass bring on a celebratory, carnivalesque vibe that perfectly suits the moment without becoming indulgently gypsy on us. They tread The White Stripes territory with a rocking cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene. Their new single Bad Love is an exhilaratingly nasty, guitar-fuelled, spaghetti western affair of epic proportions that should leave plenty hankering for the lads' new album, rumoured to drop next year.

The venue packs out in anticipation of Ngaiire's headline set and when the red curtains are pulled back to reveal the singer there is an excited surge toward the stage. The one-time Australian Idol contestant projects a fierce presence that is tempered with genuine warmth and passion. Matching her ferocious attitude are Ngaiire's distinctive vocals, which come with plenty of power. It makes her the centre of attention within a lush mix of synths and live drums. Showcasing tunes off her debut breakout album Lamentations, Ngaiire effortlessly swings from soul and R&B to more purely electronic-pop moments that ought to be hitting the charts. The singles Dirty Hercules and Around are feel-good highs that have the crowd begging for more but it's the emotional rawness of ABCD that closes the set and proves that Ngaiire has more to offer than most other party-hard show ponies.