The first night of ROAR Festival saw us nestled into Grey Street, St. Kilda’s hidden gem George Lane, an intimate and quirky classic wine bar that houses regular intimate shows. What a perfect location to launch this incredible celebration of women in music. Tonight, we had five artists all emerging, independent artists that are the next generation of female voices. The line up has been so incredibly curated, each act different in their own right, all local, all gifted with so much talent.
First up tonight is Wild Gloriosa who along with her keyboard accompaniment Aaron Ellis gave us a set that absolutely took my breath away. Her set was a combination of solo offerings as well as a couple of cover songs. Wild Gloriosa’s original song are beautiful tales of life and love. Her cover of “Say A Little Prayer”, was just sublime and so unique.
Glorisa’s style hallmarked a bluesy, jazz infused performance, her voice is just sublime and so captivating. There is something about this performance that made a statement and touched deep within. Her original songs have a familiarity to them, her lyrical journey is personal and translates beautifully. To say that Wild Gloriosa is can sing is an understatement. Her talent is immense, and it makes you wonder what she has in reserve in power and depth. I think tonight’s set only just scratched the surface of what she can deliver.
Charlie Lane is an indie alternative/pop artist who has an interesting back story, one that has shaped her lyrics and songwriting. Last year Lane released her album ‘I’m Ok Now but I Wasn’t’ which is an autobiographical and therapeutic collection of songs that tell her unique story. Most of tonight set were songs from that album. Her story telling ability through her music is perfect. While Lane appears to be like anyone else, her story is uniquely hers. Lane has grown up with Cerebal Palsy and her life challenges serve as content for her lyrics.
Backed by an amazing four-piece band her stories and lyrics paint a picture that the music perfectly frames. It is easy to establish a connection with Lane through her between song banter and tales, her songs and stylings delve into the blues and at times she also has a slight country tinge to her music. If I had to put a comparison against her voice, I heard moments of Joni Mitchell and Kate Nash. The set that Lane and her band delivered tonight was well received and thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance.
Ruby Mae tonight played a solo set, just her voice and guitar. While usually Ruby Mae performs with a band tonight was one of those rare occasions where she played solo. While not having heard what she does with a full band behind her I was captivated by the rawness in her lyrical matter. Each song is so autobiographical and incredibly personal. Mae pulls no punches with her lyrics. Clever, striking and incredibly charming only just begin to describe the personality that shines through. It’s rare that you find this kind of connection and insight into an artist so instantly.
The third song into the set is introduced by Mae claiming that’s the nice stuff out of the way. “This is where it all changes”. Mae recalls an interview she did recently where the interviewer made a comment along the lines of, I would hate for you have written a song about me as she launched into “Dickhead”. I urge you to go and listen to the song for the full context, it’s amazing. The ability to connect and get to know Mae as a human and artist in the short space of this set is rare. With her debut album due for release on April 3 it’s something that I will certainly be checking out. Yet another incredible local talent that I had no idea about has been exposed by this amazing initiative. I will be keeping an eye out for her band shows and album launch.
The name Charlie Needs Braces conjures up so many preconceived ideas of what they sound like even before hearing them. My first thought was they would be pop/punk band or a gritty indie band. I could have been any further away in guessing what they would sound like. Charlie Needs Braces origins come from the Central Coast of New South Wales but are now Melbourne based. CNB are a sister duo that are bright, quirky and pure fun. Charlie Woods, who the project is named after is a multi-instrumentalist that uses her talents to create loops sampling her own playing to build a playground on which she and her sister dance, play and tell stories.
The way in which this sister duo delivers its music can have you a little unsure of what is to come, but like any good artist they have this ability to hook you and reel you in. It’s arty, clever and is quite different to what we have had in the first three artists of the night. Miri Woods also delves into the live looping side of things using a percussive sample pad. The musical structures of their songs are textured and at times manic and without boundaries in their make-up. However, the personalities of these two sisters are infectious and engaging. The songs are tales of personal experiences, discovery and indigenous heritage. I had so much fun watching their set and it’s easy to see how they got the incredible reaction they did.
Tonight’s headliner is one of my favourite artists of the last ten months even though my introduction to her talent goes back to before she became a solo artist, I have always been a fan. Kathleen Halloran is one of those names you need to remember. If you have seen Kate Ceberano live in the last five years you will know who Kathleen Halloran is, she is Kate’s guitarist and an integral part of her band. Two years ago I saw Kathleen play a solo band set at the Melbourne Guitar Show where we talked about what she had planned in releasing her own music and her plans to sing on it as well. In August last year I saw Kathleen play a solo set where it was just Kathleen and her acoustic guitar playing a handful of original songs. That was my introduction to Kathleen’s solo material. Fast forward to her debut single launch for ‘Free Like Me’ in December of last year we got the full Kathleen Halloran band experience.
Tonight, we were again treated to a new and hopefully somewhat stable line up of Halloran’s band. There is no doubt about it from the first song we were treated to a masterclass of pure talent. Looking more confident than ever Halloran demanded your attention immediately. She plays with such conviction and feel it is hard to believe that she is in her early twenties, her soul, feel and understanding of her instrument is generations older than she is. Her ability is studied, mastered and disciplined. The songs that made up tonight’s set were all played at the single launch and were somewhat familiar to me. What I didn’t expect was how she has levelled up again and how damn tight her band was. Vocally harmonies were flawless, the execution of the songs effortless and precise.
There was this electric energy that came from the stage and while drummer Andy Silvo made his debut with the band tonight you could have sworn he has been there for forever. Every instrument locked precisely in what was a relaxed yet extremely tight set, the way her band understood the songs and each other was something you had to see and being there you just felt it. Hallorans vocals were relaxed and on point, her playing and ability to drop jaws when she solos really can’t be put into words. Her original material has so many facets to it, the style is uniquely hers and she refuses to define herself with predictability. Judging by the response in the room tonight one thing was clear Kathleen Halloran left an impression winning a ton of new fans. If there is a role model for the new era of female performers here she is, incredibly talented and completely inspirational. Kathleen Halloran is an artist you need to see live and I recommend you do as soon as you get the chance to
A huge thank you goes out to the RackeTT team of Cassie, Tammy and Tania who ran a seamless show and executed a vision perfectly. Day two of ROAR Fest promises to be even bigger with their massive show at the National Theatre on March 9 featuring Gypsy Lee, Gabriella Climi. Wilsn, Tania Doko and Kate Ceberano. If tickets are still available at the time this is published grab one as it will be a show not to be missed.
Photos by Shot By Slaidins Photography
