Live Review: Emily Joy, Young Robin, Kurt Carrera, Jasmine Atkins

Four shining local talents on display with virtually no changeover times produced a high vibe right across the room and a merch stand handing over cupcakes. The night was billed as a mini festival of sorts and Jimmy's Den didn't fail to deliver on a glowing evening.

Jasmine Atkins took the opening slot with some solo acoustic pop from her upcoming EP Key To My Heart. The upbeat melodies of Atkins played well as a solo set but will play out even better with a full band backing. Throwing in the odd cover from Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban, her short set warmed the room nicely.

The most diverse act of the night, Kurt Carrera easily turned bystanders into listeners as he stacked layers of loop pedals together with a style that draws just as heavily from R&B as it does surf acoustic. Easily standing out as a highlight is his powerhouse a cappella of Wayfaring Stranger, which strikes up neo-soul under the glowing red lights.

Indie-pop five-piece Young Robin became the first act of the night to truly open up the Jimmy's Den floor. Their hooks and fluttering guitar lines are addictive and sprightly, with their sound landing them somewhere between San Cisco and Last Dinosaurs. The energetic presence Young Robin brought to the stage was already perfectly set up for dancing the night away, so the inclusion of Ferndully certainly locked in shuffling feet across the floor.

Celebrating the release of her new self-titled EP, Emily Joy took a number of us by surprise by opening with bursts of electric guitar sound. Shaking off initial nerves and a slightly underwhelming vocal mix with Relapsing, Joy speaks to us between tracks, giving an insight into the meaning behind each song. By the time she rolls onto the Nancy Sinatra classic These Boots Are Made For Walkin', she's in her element and takes control of the stage with sassy country attitude.

Drawing similarities to Taylor Swift would be too obvious, but Joy swings more toward country than outright pop. Maintaining a strong harmony with guitarist Luke Gallagher, Joy's gentle, sweeping vocals for Parachute soar into the outright boogie party of Karma's Gonna Catch Me or her recent iTunes breakthrough single Barricade. They close the night with a bang via a Shania Twain tribute.