A perfect spring day fit for a perfect day of live music is what we were given at Victoria Park in Ballarat. The team from Face To Face have delivered one of their finest series of shows under that banner. This line up is nothing short of exceptional, a showcase of 5 iconic, household Australian bands that have such broad appeal not to mention history and musical heritage. Artists that made themselves into household names during the last four decades. The unannounced opener of Jae Laffer as an emerging artist was a great inclusion to this line up.
Starting off today and was a Jae Laffer, frontman for Melbourne’s The Panics who presented a set of original solo material as well as reinterpreted and stripped back songs crucial to the catalogue of his band and of course his success with The Panics. There could be a million different influences in the way these songs were delivered. It was a simple classy set of indie rock tunes with melancholic undertones. Stripped back to the simplicity of guitars and keyboards. No pomp or circumstance, just great songs delivered in a chilled way to start off the show. A perfect complement to the perfect spring day.
Jae Laffer Gallery
The Waifs are one of those bands that have this magic about them. Their folky, blues dressed pop songs shine beautifully. It’s hard to believe that the sisters Vikki Thorn (Harmonica, Guitar, Vocals) and Donna Simpson (Guitars, Vocals) have been doing this with Josh Cunningham (Guitars, Vocals) for over thirty years. For me it was their 2002 hit ‘London Still’ that first caught my attention, a song that has found a home in the hearts and minds of so many upon its release and has stayed there. It’s melody and lyrics are etched into my musical brain and instantly takes me back to moments in life.
The contrast and compliment of Thorn’s and Simpsons voices are nothing short of magical. Thorn’s harmonica playing is an absolute treat as it gives these tales of love and life an additional depth. Simpson’s voice is superb and the way she phrases her words is captivating. The soundtrack and musicianship from Cunningham and rhythm section is silky smooth in its delivery and just fills the stories with heart and sets the mood perfectly.
There is a magic in this set of songs today, it hit me differently to the last time I saw The Waifs, maybe it was the setting for today, the warmth of the sun and the general spirit of the day that made for a different kind of connection to these songs. The crowd sang along and appeared to be struck the same way I was by their set. They had started something and were the perfect band for the slot. If you are attending one of the Red Hot Summer Tour shows on this run. I urge you to make sure you get to catch these guys and gals do their thing.
Setlist : Highway One, How Many Miles, London Still, Ironbark, Done & Dusted, Bridal Train, Fisherman’s Daughter, Lighthouse.
THE WAIFS GALLERY
Mark Seymour is undoubtedly one of this country’s finest songwriters and performers. Since the inception of Hunters & Collectors back in 1981, Seymour has always had a very special way of telling a tale. His voice is unmistakable, his songs are journeys into heritage and blue-collar life, the Australian way. Amid Hunters and Collectors reunions, solo albums came his latest band The Undertow. I first saw The Undertow a couple of years ago and the band had an alluring quality that stayed with me. At the time the song ‘The Boxer’ blew me away and the reimagining of Hunters & Collectors songs felt fresh. It goes without saying that the pairing of Seymour and his collaborator and guitarist Cameron McKenzie makes for a very special sauce.
Today was yet another spin on what I had witnessed at that first Undertow show. The addition of Vika & Linda Bull took todays set of songs to places that you must hear and see to fully understand. These two ladies have been a powerhouse driving force not only as a part of The Black Sorrows, but in their own rights. Their voices and power are unmistakable. When you throw that power into the catalogue of Seymour you get something that is completely next level. Mark, Vika, Linda and The Undertow are magnificent. This set of songs took on new life, some written for Vika and Linda by Seymour, others, classics and that the sisters have taken on as their own. The relationship between these two entities dates quite some time back and as early as 1994 where ‘When Will You Fall For Me’ marked the sisters breaking out on their own.
The addition of the sister’s voices to the Hunters and Collectors selections were magical and brought new life into these classics. Seymour’s stamp clearly deep and uniquely his.
The set also debuted the forthcoming single from Vika & Linda as they spoke about the song being their first single from their forthcoming album due in May. The single ‘Where Do You Come From’ is a close and personal tale of the sister’s integration into life in Doncaster, Melbourne. A story delivered beautifully and invitingly, that’s how these sisters roll.
Seeing Cameron McKenzie play live is always a treat for me. Today was no exception from the smiles to the intensity he delivers in a way on one else can his playing is so versatile, and his tones are second to none.
Joining the band for the last two songs of the set was Crowded Houses keyboardist Mitchell Froom who added yet another dimension to ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ and ‘Say Goodbye’.
The most powerful moment from today’s set was ‘Say Goodbye’. Vika announced that Mark wanted her to perform the song from a female’s point of view and that she did. There was so much grit and power on this I was left gob smacked.
One of the key things that I also took away from today’s set is Seymour’s connection with Ballarat (which brother Nic tells us more about during the Crowded House set), his respectful and brief welcome to country based on the Wadawurrung heritage was a great touch.
This set was performers in their prime, every person on that stage delivered a set that is going to be tough to beat. If anything is to be said, this set is one you can not miss.
Setlist : The Boxer, Still Hanging ‘Round, When Will You Fall For Me, Do You See What I See, Waiting On The Kid, Where Do You Come From, Holy Grail, Westgate, Throw Your Arms Around Me, Say Goodbye.
Mark Seymour With Vika & Linda Bull Gallery
The Church have always been one of my favourites, their left of centre balance between art rock and pop music is like no other in this country, they have flirted with commercial sensibilities and success. It’s the legacy of bands like The Church that make you realise how broad their range of versatility is.
The band in 2025 is super tight and their ability to deliver these soundscapes is meticulous in its detail. Guitarists Ashley Naylor and Ian Haug embodied the very spirit of the aural energy intended when these songs were written by frontman Steve Kilbey. Kilbey takes great ownership in the delivery of these songs and the journey they take you on.
From the opening notes of ‘Tantalized’ you were taken into a bold soundscape and Kilbey’s vocal delivery in spot on. His phrasing every bit as powerful as it was on the original recording. ‘Metropolis’ is as lush as can be and a reminder of just how good the catalogue of Church songs are. ‘Almost With You’ is one of those songs that truly did fall in and out of that indie rock and radio friendly type of song that the band flirted with the formula of in the mid-eighties. It’s an absolute classic that is as fresh today as it was forty years ago, catchy and had you singing along. ‘Hypnogogue’ is spacious, arty and eccentric. A soundscape full of movement and the screens that displayed live footage with arty overlays just took things to another dimension, wow.
Kilbey introduces the next song by telling the story of how he made a deal with the devil of sorts. How he wished he could just have one song be a hit, how he wished that song could have been something as cool as something by Roxy Music. This was 1981 mind you, instead he says that he got this beer barn banger in ‘Unguarded Moment’, it wasn’t his ideal hit song, yet without it people like me may have never discovered the band. It was that raw rock grove, that guitar sound and the catchy as hell melody and chorus that made me a fan at a mere ten years old. A fan that has ventured and journeyed with the band for the next forty years, discovering something each time the catalogue is revisited, gaining depth and further appreciation for Kilbey and The Church’s songbook.
‘Interlude’ twisted the set again moving back towards art rock, the song placement for the overall flow of the show is incredible. ‘Under The Milky Way’ has the majority of Ballarat’s crowd singing along, there was a feeling in the air during this song, it’s such a connective moment uniting everyone here in some way. It was chilling to be a part of.
While this is a modified greatest hits set The Church have not been resting on the back catalogue and played their forthcoming single ‘Sacred Echoes’ which dips it toes into the art rock style the band is so loved for. Closing with ‘Reptile’ was an incredible choice too, The Church today stayed so true to their history, their diversity, the hits and themselves. It’s great to see The Church play in this environment. I have seen them play in mid-sized venues and theatres before, but this was something else.
Setlist : Tantalized, Metropolis, Almost With You, Hypnogogue, Unguarded Moment, Interlude, Under The Milky Way, Sacred Echoes, Reptile.
The Church Gallery
With the sun starting to move into its resting place we were next treated to Angus & Julia Stone. This brother and sister combination is something very special. The band they have with them are super polished and their delivery of this set was incredible. I had never seen them before yet found myself lost in the feel-good chilled vibes from this set. Having said that I have never really dug into their catalogue of songs, so to be honest I know very little about them aside for their monster hit ‘Big Jet Plane’. This was all new to me, however I almost felt like I wasn’t alone there. So, like I sponge I soaked it all up as did the patrons on the lawns of Victoria Park. With a couple of covers versions thrown in for good measure the Angus & Julia Stone set had a chilled flow to it.
What did become evident was the quality of songwriting of this band, they have crafted some of the finest chill out tunes I have heard from an Australian artist, part folk rock, part indie pop with a touch of Americana. It’s a mix of styles that they are able to seamlessly mesh to create something that is uniquely theirs. The musicianship of Julia Stone is something to experience, her trumpet playing is perfect, her guitar skills elegant and well placed, her voice is pure silk.
Angus Stone has one of those comforting voices and suits what they do so well, and his songwriting is on point. If nothing else this set has had me wanting to explore their catalogue and dive into what they are all about as today was barely scratching the surface. It’s refreshing to find an artist that has had so much impact and appeal with younger generations that I hadn’t really a place with. I guess that’s the beauty of live music. This set was all about delivering a batch of elegant songs that hit right and today they connected. A fantastic set and performance that has opened a rabbit hole that I’m keen to explore.
Setlist : Streets Of Your Town, Nothing Else, Private Lawns, Grizzly Bear, Stay With Me, For You, Big Jet Plane, Chateau.
Angus & Julia Stone Gallery
I have always been a fan of Split Enz, they were introduced to me at a young age by uncles and of course Countdown did the rest. They were the right mix of catchy songs and quirky style in their early career. They introduced me to Neil Finn who as I got older came to realise just how good a songwriter he is. The birth of Crowded House and that debut album spent a lot of time on my turntable. It was a flawless release that is as close to a perfect album from any artist, something I still stand by to this day. It hasn’t aged a day, it’s still fresh, relevant and such a great listen. Those first three albums were the perfect hattrick of successive releases. I first saw Crowded House in 1987 and unfortunately that was the last time I saw them until today. A lot has changed since then, however from the moment I heard the words “She came all the way from America” I felt like I had travelled back in time.
Victoria park was in full voice and sang every word with Finn and Co. Kids on parent’s shoulders, jackets being waved in the air, people dancing and bouncing amongst a wave of mobile phones all attempting to capture some of the magical atmosphere. It gave me goosebumps.
Given that bands evolve the current Crowded House line up looks somewhat different to the band I first saw. The only familiar face on the stage aside from Finn was that of the always beaming Nick Seymour who still bounces across the stage with the same enthusiasm he had thirty-eight years ago.
Tonight’s set was truly a celebration of the band’s history. Songs dating back to pre-Crowded House to a scattering of songs from their last two releases it was an incredibly well-rounded set. With a larger band on stage it allowed so magical musical moments, the opportunity for the band to jam and explore within songs. ‘Chocolate Cake’ went somewhere else in this regard and turned into this magical near progressive jam and hearing ‘Private Universe’ run right through the percussive outro was simply stunning.
As one would expect that same fun spirit that was a hallmark of the band was still there in spades Nick Seymour was in fine form with tales of Ballarat a town that clearly gave him so much as a youth. From stories of his father being the Owen Williams (Men’s fashion) man of the month to telling tales of growing up and fun facts, it became a bit of a history lesson of the town and Nick Seymour himself. The Owen Williams story turned into recurring attempts to jam a jingle for the establishment; it even took us down the rabbit hole of the band improvising a verse and chorus of DeeLite’s ‘Groove Is In The Heart’. The fun and smiles were infectious.
Looking around the crowd tonight, you got to understand just how well loved this catalogue of songs is. From the swaying cuddles and embraces during certain songs to the extremely loud chorus of voices, the dancing and singing entire songs word for word there was a lot of love in the space. I found myself singing these songs word for word for the most part, realising what a genius Neil Finn is as a lyricist and songwriter. The power of this set just drove it home. People constantly refer to artists like The Beatles as being such incredible contemporary songwriters. They mastered their craft and pushed boundaries in the 60’s & 70’s. So did this band who formed in Melbourne in 1985. They delivered such incredible and consistent albums for the 80’s & 90’s, they knew how to craft a song, tell a story and constantly evolved as a band Crowded House to me are Australia’s own Beatles. To this day they still create great music.
If I had to sum up tonight’s performance, it exceeded everything I thought it would be. The musicianship, the fun, the energy, the songs and the whole box and dice were perfect. I had an absolute ball. This is what music does; it connects people and creates memories that last a lifetime.
Setlist : Mean To Me, World Where You Live, Teenage Summer, Fall At Your Feet, To The Island, When You Come, Private Universe, Four Seasons In One Day, The Howl, Something So Strong, Distant Sun, Don’t Dream It’s Over, I Got You, Message To My Girl, Chocolate Cake, Weather With You, Better Be Home Soon.
Crowded House Gallery
All image credits Shot by Slaidins Photography
To the team at Face To Face Touring and Red Hot Summer thank you for putting such a great line up together. For celebrating Australian artists and for daring to give us something different again at Red Hot Summer. For giving artists and new music a space to be heard. I look forward to what is presented this time next year.
For the fans in attendance, buy the artists merch, buy the new record and continue to support our music industry on every level.
Finally, I know most of the dates on this tour have sold out, but if you get the chance to grab a ticket, get along, you won’t be disappointed. For those with tickets get along early and enjoy a truly amazing line up.
Tickets are available at:
www.ticketmaster.com.au
