Live Review: Sarah Blasko, Jack Colwell, Lupa J

Lupa J's breathy indie femininity meets electro was Blasko as she began, while Jack Colwell's theatrical rock meets cabaret meets something new is Blasko in more recent times. Both supports were really solid in their own right — so not to make this about Blasko tributes and comparisons — but let's just say it was lovely to have such consistency in the bill overall. The clear, shared musical sensibilities between the headliner and her supports made finding new sounds while waiting for the main act a joy. Love when that happens.

Sarah Blasko's set was filled mostly with music from newbie Eternal Return, an album that lets her voice soar while wrapped up in a synth blanket of slightly retro goodness. As she paced through the tracks Blasko also literally paced on the spot, a type of slow forward 'running man' trance that took her gracefully from one end of the stage to the other and made her sheepishly apologise to any tap dancers in the house whose "art will be trampled on tonight". Highlights included singles I Wanna Be Your Man (which also featured a gender-bending duet karaoke performance, like its video clip) and I'd Be Lost, as well as album tracks Say What You Want, Only One, Maybe This Time and a stripped back version of Here from I Awake. Her acknowledgment of 'the older tunes' with All I Want and We Won't Run also got a rumble of applause and various declarations of love from individual punters. Doing her best to keep the show on the road but also acknowledge the feels, Blasko stopped a few times to thank and play with the crowd, finally finishing with the rumbly crescendo of I Awake. It's great to have her back.