Paul Kelly

The encore eased them down with Kelly’s I’m Not Afraid Of The Dark Anymore with the musicians vocally harmonising then moving into a somewhat off-kilter-sounding instrumental passage, rounding off the song cycle that “meditates on time, mortality, friendship and love”.

In a venue that sounded sublime and with music bursting with cultural importance and memories, this was a very special performance.

A quick peruse on Facebook en route to the car unveils a fellow concert-goer’s post that says it all: “Bob Dylan: America’s Paul Kelly”.

Included in this year's finalists are Paul Kelly and James Ledger, Stephen Leek and Carl Vine