Live Review: Cloud Control, Brett Winterford, Eleanor Dunlop

Eleanor Dunlop was up first, a confident singer-songwriter whose stripped-back, mid-tempo songs set a comfortable atmosphere. Led by a simple but strong piano accompaniment (Dunlop remarked how excited she was to be playing the gorgeous Steinway grand), it was her voice which stood out: emotive and full of character. Disguise, the first single from her upcoming EP, is one to look out for: a dreamy, smoky track with a subtle James Bond theme vibe to it.

By the time Brett Winterford – a local performer in the time-tested acoustic guitar singer-songwriter tradition – took the stage, the crowd had grown a little restless, which clearly didn't delight the performer. However, the addition of an electric guitarist a few songs in fleshed things out nicely, and helped to drown out the chit-chat. Unfortunately it was hard not to view his songs as anything other than background music for the dining guests, despite Winterford's best efforts.

However, once Cloud Control took to the stage, a hush fell over the crowd, ready to lap up an intimate performance from one of Australia's finest groups. This performance marked the first date in their acoustic tour, and with all the effects, production and instrumentation (as well as bassist Jeremy Kelshaw) stripped away, what remained was a perfect display of just how solid these songs are. Dojo Rising led with a stomp, retaining every bit of its punchiness, and featured keyboardist Heidi Lenffer improvising some percussion with the help of a glass from the bar. Happy Birthday showcased just how well the group's voices fit together – Lenffer and frontman Alister Wright are onto some serious Lennon-McCartney shit, with solid backing from percussionist Ulrich Lenffer. The unplugged set was an unexpected departure but felt like a rare treat, a sort of behind-the-music look at the bare-bones fundamentals of these great tunes.