Live Review: Skyfields

Skyfields, a fresh addition to the ever-fluctuating Australian festival scene, promised world-class music and feasts of local produce in a lush pocket of Tasmania. For the most part, it delivered.

The location of Skyfields is stunning and perhaps unparalleled in Australia. Driving to the location, the places you pass tell enough of a story with turns-offs to 'Promised Land', 'Nowhere Else' and 'Paradise' (yes, they are genuine names, Google them). On location, the stage sits at the base of the jagged cliffs of Mount Roland with sweeping views of green meadows, grazing cattle, small cottages and secluded forest. Location, tick.

Upon entry at this site, the afternoon air is enhanced by the banjo, slide guitar and honest lyrics of Adelaide duo Halfway To Forth. The growing crowd, who are wielding a plethora of camp chairs, smile in appreciation and they reserve their patch of grass

In the slowly dropping sun the landscape around constantly changes mood. It is the perfect backdrop for the foot-stomping, gritty blues and smooth and sincere vocals of renowned Tasmanian artist Pete Cornelius. Building to the main performance, Jesse Teinaki carries the crowd with a mixture of acoustic-driven originals and covers, each underpinned by his impressive vocal range.

Next should have been Dan Sultan, however citing "reasons of a very personal nature" he withdrew days before the event. It's an unfortunate disruption for organisers, who do their best to reshuffle set times to cover the absence. From a pure entertainment perspective, it's hard not to feel a little unfulfilled by imagining just how well the renowned soul-driven blues-rock of Sultan would have slotted in at this moment.

Any yearnings of missed performances are soon forgotten however as Paul Dempsey takes the stage. Joined by four others including Olympia (fresh from a Festival Called PANAMA last weekend), Dempsey starts with Fast Friends. From the outset he sets a clear tone of professionalism in performance and humour between songs. He weaves between quiet moments and rockier sounds, his quality lyricism is on display through a mixture of raspy yet delicate vocals. In between songs he tells stories of touring with David Bowie and with slight sexual innuendo recounts his delight of tasting 'pulled rabbit' from one of the festival stalls. Its is a solid set that peaks with favourites Out Of The Airlock and Ramona Was A Waitress from his 2009 debut solo release, Everything Is True, before finishing with Theme From Nice Guy.

As the beautiful surrounding landscape falls into pure darkness, the main stage adorned with a glistening backdrop is perfectly set for ARIA award-winning Missy Higgins. A mainstay of contemporary Australian music, this is new territory for Higgins. Making her name with stripped-back piano and acoustic ballads, Higgins now sits at her piano grinning as she is surrounded by the world-renowned full Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra (TSO).

Higgins' set moves delightfully between a diversity of sounds and tempos. During songs such as The Special Two and The Sound Of White, space is left to isolate and highlight Higgins' strong solo vocal and instrumental capabilities. While in songs such as Steer Higgins brandishes an acoustic guitar and moves in a way that teeters between folk and rock-influenced head sways. All these sounds come together beautifully in her take on The Drones' classic Shark Fin Blues (from her 2014 release Oz). Beginning with stripped-back piano and delicate vocals, the sound builds with the violins and harps of the TSO and hits a peak as nearly 20 children from the local Crescendo Choir assemble on the stage for the final chorus. There are moments like this throughout the set and the crowd is swaying and grinning just as much as Higgins is.

The night ends without an encore and nearly an hour ahead of schedule. Despite this early finish, the murmurs of extremely long food and drink queues, and the hole left by Dan Sultan's withdrawal, Higgins' set is of such quality that it eases most complaints. As performers echo throughout the day, this is a superb setting and each act quality. Despite various teething issues, Skyfields ticked many of the boxes required for a successful festival. Building on its majestic location and excellent selection of musicians, further improvements in site management will no doubt allow this festival to carve itself a long-term place among the mountains of Mount Roland and the Australian festival scene.