A polite bunch of punters (doubts ensue that the politeness won't last long in this place) give New England, New South Welshman Dustin Tebbutt their undivided attention, and rightly so; this slight dude with a voice that echoes nuances of Justin Vernon and Josh Tillman hits the nail on the head in terms of openers. He's assured, engaging, slightly awkward in his attempts at stage banter, and wow, what beautifully crafted songs. Ably backing himself with nothing but his trusty guitar and MacBook, he loops his way through most of his The Breach EP. The title track and The Wolves showcase his commanding warble; if only the musical output wasn't hampered by a swift sound setup.

By the time Sydney indie rock quartet Battleships arrive, the place is looking fuller than usual at this point in the night. By the sound of all the cheering they've got some eager ears present. Spec-sporting Jordan Sturdee's vocal really is the centrepiece of this tight outfit; he manages to lilt from articulate and snappy in the cracking beat of Coming Back To You to the more sparse and brooding energy behind new single, Take Your Rest. It's a pretty flawless set and when they close with the sense-rocking In Retrospect, it's clear they've satisfied fans and made new ones.

At last check tonight's show was close to sold-out status. There's little surprise then if indeed it has as there's very little breathing space in the Cooly's supremely awkward-shaped room. In a way, that let's-make-friends-with-strangers kind of communal vibe is almost a social script that sits well alongside Sydney's folk/indie rock powerhouse five-piece Boy & Bear. Singer Dave Hosking has maintained his trademark mo' (and, admittedly it has been a warm day, but really, a wife-beater?), and his easy smile that has not once disappeared in their near-constant gigging over these past three years. It's not a long time between debut and award-winning, single-rotating, headlining, chart-breaking status, but there's something timeless about their retrospective sound that intensifies alongside their warmly comforting everyman lyrics. The title track off this year's Harlequin Dream kicks things off, with guitar standing in for that bitching sax solo, sadly. They dip back to their early EP with Rabbit Song and Mexican Mavis, and from there it's a near two-hour set of classics from 2011's Moonfire (Lordy May, Milk And Sticks, Part Time Believer) and a fair sample of new stuff (Three-Headed Woman, Real Estate, Southern Sun). Their strict policy on no encores materialises when they wind things up with Golden Jubilee and Feeding Line, leaving the many happy faces and a fine flagbearer for Australian music in their wake.