Reviews / Live

His understanding of music history, or more accurately music folklore, translates easily into blues, country and calypso. He is a phenomenal talent of whom Australians should be most proud.

There’s something a bit trippy about that many security peeps just concentrated on that little part of the building (seriously, did we look that dangerous?), and the seats upstairs were a nice touch (having somewhere to sit and watch the young people should always happen).

Whether he was chanting a traditional song or one of his own arrangements, his songs were moving and elegant and radiated a warm and rare humanity.

You never really get to hear Miller-Heidke’s incredible voice sit within the St John’s Cathedral acoustics. It’s either loud to the point of almost distorting or hidden beneath artificial delays. Which is disappointing.

Though her name might bring to mind some sort of mens’ workwear wholesaler, there was nothing beige about Kaki King tonight.

More than anything the performance is a testament to the band’s continuing legacy, and a recognition that great music doesn’t have to live in the past: it can continue to move us in a myriad of new ways.

In fact, Wainwright holds the crowd’s attention from the moment she steps on stage to the moment she bids farewell, and then everybody’s off to bed. After all, there are chores and IKEA trips for early tomorrow morning.