Live Review: Marlon Williams, Aldous Harding, Andy Golledge

The local Americana scene has thrown up some wonderful multi-act bills of late and this evening was up there with the best of them.

Andy Golledge opened proceedings with an impressive set built on long, winding songs that ebbed and flowed from subtle folkisms to wildly emotive passages where his voice tipped over into a glorious falsetto. With fine backing from Leroy Lee on slide guitar and banjo the pair set the scene perfectly with their blues-tinged country music.

From Lyttelton, New Zealand and as of a week ago resident of Melbourne, Aldous Harding took the echo of the opening set and transformed it into an intimate and ethereal form. The audience were silenced and transfixed as she wove her finger-picking and otherworldly voice around songs from her 2014 debut album. Between songs Harding proved quite the humourist, which balanced out the intensity of her performance wonderfully. From songs like The Hunter and Beast to her closing Edith Piaf cover her performance was just as bewitching and hypnotic as her album.

Marlon Williams has had a huge year with shows all over the country and still that elusive debut solo album tantalisingly out of reach. He’s also evolved from a solo performer to establishing a full band – The Yarra Benders. Tonight – coordinated in black jean and white tee street gang attire – they included guitarist Dan Parsons and bassist Ben Woolley (from Williams’ previous band The Unfaithful Ways) and they brought a real sense of fun, variety and energy to Williams’ performance.

From covers of Louvin Brothers, Bob Carpenter, Johnny Dowd, Johnny Cash and The Tremolos (feat. Harding) to set regulars such as the Ballad Of Minnie Dean, Heaven For You and a brand new song, Everyone’s Got Something To Say, Williams’ voice ran the full gamut of country, folk, blues and rock’n’roll replete with his garrison of hollers, sustained notes, soaring melodies and melancholic ache. The encore began with his solo and jaw-dropping version of the traditional When I Was A Young Girl that reinforced how masterful Williams is, not just as a singer but as an interpreter of song.