Review by: Lana Harris
 |
John Butler Trio have been injecting mainstream consciousness with a social conscience since 2001. Along the way, John Butler has added fans, lost the dreads, changed the line up, but kept the message the same. The unique voice, more likely to sing about the heartbreak caused by cruel, heartless companies rather than a cruel, heartless lover, has played both Woodford Folk Festival and the Big Day Out, a testament to the diversity of hearts strings twanged by his 12 string banjo. |
The afternoon brought with it dark clouds that took away the light but not the heat, and those of us wrapped in black shuffled through the cyclone wire fence that surrounds Riverstage dripping with something a bit more corporeal than anticipation. 
The mosh pit at the Enmore theatre was packed out from wall to wall before the support acts – had even left the stage, and the seats quickly filled up. As soon as Kate Miller-Heidke hit the stage, the excited hubbub exploded into a minute’s solid applause. She lived up to her usual image – with freshly dyed hair and a dress made out of purple frills and silver tinsel. And, as soon as she started playing, everyone in the house knew they were in for something special. The whole crowd fell dead silent to hear her open with “Our Song”, a honest and emotional performance that Kate starts over her partner Kier Nuttal’s guitar before the rest of the band comes in.
The Zoo is filled with fresh faced lasses in floral dresses and boys with floppy hair and dance pants. As soon as the six members of Brisbane’s Ball Park Music hit the stage to room is on its feet and inching closer to the stage. It’s like were being sucked forward by the gloriously poppy sounds and irresistibly jangly guitars. And the trombone. How can anyone resist a trombone? This collective of shiny, happy young’uns have spent much of the year gigging around the city and attracting a little pack of supporters. They released an 8 track debut “Rolling on the floor, Laughing ourselves to sleep” early this year and some of the tracks have come to the attention of triple j heavyweights.
Having spoken with Michael Amott re their most recent Album launch and subsequent tour schedule only last month, I can’t wait to see one of today’s most sought after guitarists in action!