Live Review: Leaps & Bounds Opening Night: Augie March, Gawurra, Jess Ribeiro

Tonight we launch Leaps & Bounds and, after a particularly warm and heartfelt Welcome To Country, Jess Ribeiro and her band take the stage, each member looking like they belong to a different '70s rock band. Drawing from 2015's ­Kill It Yourself as well as previewing songs from her forthcoming album, Ribeiro and co offer a pleasing combination of motorik drums, distorted guitar and ethereal three-part harmonies reminiscent of The Velvet Underground's prettier moments.

Next on tonight's bill is a mystery 'special guest' to sing the Paul Kelly song after which Leaps & Bounds festival is named. Anyone expecting the man himself will leave disappointed, but we are arguably treated to something much better. Stanley Gawurra Gaykamangu, a Gupapuyngu musician who recently relocated to Melbourne from Arnhem Land, sings the song, followed by an original ballad in his native language. Accompanied only by a guitarist and his own strummed acoustic chords, Gawurra's formidable voice fills the entire room. It's a beautiful, heart-stopping moment throughout which the entranced audience is respectfully silent. It's striking how seldom Aboriginal artists are included in Australian cultural events that aren't explicitly about celebrating Indigenous cultures.

Augie March appear to be in a reflective mood. Beginning their set with Rich Girl from their second EP, the band then take us on a tour of their early years drawing largely from their first two albums. Deep cuts like Addle Brains and The Offer populate the set until the stoic, stately Stranger Strange appears complete with a beautiful saxophone solo. Between songs, drummer David Williams reminisces aloud about the band's very first rehearsals and performances around Melbourne two decades ago (although there's little sentimentality on display). It's a rockier set than a casual fan might expect. Some songs - Brundisium and the set-closing Clockwork in particular - build to cacophonous climaxes. A three-piece horn section adds immensely to the impact of these songs.

After a brief encore, the band return once more with the gorgeous Definitive History before wrapping things up with The Hole In Your Roof.

The pleasures of Augie March's music lie mainly in lyrics and intricate details, neither of which are easily transferred to the live setting. Like most things in Augie March's career, tonight's set does little to cater to casual listeners. But for long-time fans familiar with these songs and who admire the band for their self-sabotaging inaccessibility, there's plenty to appreciate.