Live Review: Concert For Kimberley

It's not every day that the south-west gets treated to a concert of such a high calibre for the sake of protecting heritage in our very backyard. As a result, thousands flocked to the esplanade park in Fremantle to be a part of what was a spectacular show and inspirational movement. Ball Park Music kicked off the musical side of things, punching out a good-vibes-all-round set. Lead vocalist Sam Cromack humoured the crowd with the introduction, “Here's a song we feel is very appropriate for today, and it's called Rich People Are Stupid!” The indie-pop group won over new listeners and kept existing fans rapt in adoration, however, the number of profanities contained in some songs may have had a few parents raising eyebrows, the event after all accommodating for an all ages crowd. “It's okay, we're swearing for the right reasons”, Cromack exclaimed, before launching into iFly for their finale; the most profane song in their repertoire.

Following BPM was a march consisting of 15,000 people through the streets of Fremantle to protest the industrial development at James Price Point in the Kimberley. Chants were chorused and spirits were lifted before everyone was back to see Missy Higgins perform. With her latest album becoming her third straight to hit #1 in the ARIA charts, Higgins sounded fresh and performed flawlessly, aside from exclaiming, “Fuck, I've forgot the words!” during one of her latest releases. Thankfully, a few die-hard fans on the stage barrier helped her out, and she went on to perform old favourites 10 Days and Scar, much to the crowd's delight. Her final song Steer was a tribute to the Kimberley and a fitting end to a beautiful set.

A break between bands, and the still-growing audience were treated to a couple of short films further promoting the protection of the Kimberley. Finally, it was time for the John Butler Trio to assemble of stage. For John Butler himself, it was a momentous experience, and it was quite easy to tell he was extremely proud to have brought so many people together for such a good cause. The music seemed to be an accurate representation of the mood, too, with some reflective instrumental pieces mixed in among crowd favourites Better Than and Zebra. Spirits were at an all-time high as the sun set over the horizon, and I'm sure those behind the movement will now be feeling stronger and more confident than ever.