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Live Review: Megan Washington

Georgia Corpe

"Among the remainder of the setlist is an array of beautiful songs showcasing the artist's vulnerability and wonderful storytelling abilities."

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Once a year it comes around where Brisbane's Southbank becomes a melting pot of culture and arts, putting forward some of the best food, drink, theatre, comedy and music for all of us to enjoy as part of Brisbane Festival. Tonight is no exception, and as the festival lights up for the opening night, The Music has the pleasure of witnessing the very best that Brisbane has to offer with a performance from Megan Washington.

As the sold out crowd begins to consume The Spiegeltent, it becomes exceedingly obvious how the two-time ARIA Award winner's audience has grown since her 2010 release I Believe You Liar, with families and the young and old alike keen to see the Brissie-bred indie-pop star in action. It isn't long until Washington graces the stage, accompanied only by her keyboard. Tonight marks the first show of Washington's Tangents tour and is the first time Brisbane listeners get see her play solo, but this is surely no disappointment.

Fans probably hoping to hear some of Washington's chart toppers are pleasantly surprised with her selection of brooding piano ballads, making hearts swoon with her signature honest, poetic and natural lyrical content. And as if Brisbane music lovers weren't delighted by Washington already, she manages to charm the audience with her tales of overheard audience murmurs during her solo shows, naming a few of her favourite comments as "I thought she'd be taller", "When is she going to play something we know?" and some ocker bloke telling his friend how "fucking depressing" this show is.

The Spiegeltent — one of the beloved institutions that rolls through with the Brisbane Festival annually, bringing with it a certain elegance and flair — is a perfect backdrop for Washington's majestic voice and melancholic, relatable tunes. Although at times festival noises from outside the tent spill through the venue, it never manages to detract from the dulcet tones of Washington's performance, only acting as a reminder of the wonders of the Brisbane Festival and the many things it has to offer.

Throughout the set Washington manages to slip in a couple of stripped-back crowd favourites such as the title track from her first record I Believe You Liar, Limitless from her 2014 release There There and the beautiful How To Tame Lions; a song that reminds the crowd of when the local songstress released her first EP of the same name back in 2009. Among the remainder of the set list is an array of beautiful songs, showcasing the artist's vulnerability and wonderful storytelling abilities.