Live Review: Dan Sultan, Benny Walker, Pierce Brothers

Benny Walker and The Pierce Brothers kickstarted the night on the Twilight stage, warming up the shivering, slightly damp crowd who hadn’t let a little storm keep them away. The two opening acts set the pace perfectly for what was going to be a raw and emotional show.

As it happens, Walker was almost reminiscent of a younger Sultan. Also hailing from regional Victoria, his voice and swagger, teamed with a soulful backing singer and tight band had the crowd swept away.

Meanwhile twin brothers Jack and Pat Pierce brought an infectious energy and lots of fun to the stage, the former street performers definitely worth watching out for.

Dan Sultan was on point from the minute he stepped out on stage. Despite the dreary weather conditions, there were definitely good vibes in the air. Taking the centre of a dimly lit stage with the rolling clouds as a backdrop, Sultan kicked off with an explosive rendition of Under Your Skin. Live, the man is nothing less than brilliant. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, the crowd was treated to his acoustic talent, skilful guitar handling, his unique way of telling powerful stories through his songs and, of course, his charisma.

We were all swept away by his renditions of It Belongs To Us and Kimberley Calling, both powerful love songs about our land and all its stories, delivered with a passion that was just captivating.

The encore ended with Old Fitzroy, a perfect way to finish a powerfully emotional, albeit slightly chilly night overlooking beautiful Sydney and its harbour.