Live Review: Dirt Farmer, Gamma Rays, Dan & Amy

No strangers to this venue, brother and sister duo Dan & Amy and band open the night with exquisite, pure ballads. They play songs about love, loss and life, all of which are delivered with melodic perfection and hair-raising harmonies. The most memorable track is one that captures frontman Dan Arnott's empathy for Indigenous Australians over land stolen and culture neglected with the advent of white settlers in this country. In the current state of dismal politicking ahead of the election, the track is refreshingly impassioned and honest. It is this song, played mid-set, that silences the small-but-dedicated crowd. This supremely talented duo is worthy of headlining their own shows, but for the meantime serve as an effective and moving support act.

Middlemen Gamma Rays launch into their set offering a considerably different style from their predecessors, though the crowd lap up their hard and heavy method with equal enthusiasm. Most tracks are short and sharp, and while it feels like the two support acts reside on opposite sides of the genre gamut, the contrast works well and provides great diversity for the night. While both guitarists sing throughout Gamma Rays' set, the lead's voice is grossly and enticingly reminiscent of Silverchair's Daniel Johns. Considered together, the supports also cover the varied influences and sound of headliners Dirt Farmer, whose slacker rock has a definite folk element too.

When our headliners take to the modest stage, the equally modest room is full of enthusiastic punters, and even a few who adopt the band's theme, donning farmer hats or weaving their hair into quintessentially kid-of-the-ranch pigtails. To begin proceedings, tracks from Dirt Farmer's self-titled EP including Johnny Marble and Kick It are tightly executed. Throughout the set, the band confirm they love this job. Indulging in extended outros and guitar solos, they appear to be highly intuitive of each other's ability and unite in having an extraordinarily good time on stage. Naturally, this effect rubs off on the audience and there are no sullen or disapproving punters. The reason for the tour, the release of the second single She Shakes, is finally reached, and it is here that the crowd are thanked profusely for their attendance and support. Closing with Delilah Lightning, Dirt Farmer appear to be riding a steady ascent, carrying with them a sound that is infectious, engaging and long-lasting.