Opening the evening was Kee’ahn, a First Nations artist of Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, who delivered a soft, reflective indie-soul performance. Her gentle vocal style created a calm and thoughtful beginning to the night.
Following Kee’ahn, Emma Donovan—a highly respected Indigenous artist and member of The Black Arm Band—took to the stage, delivering her signature powerful, rich and warm vocals.
This celebration of Indigenous music and culture continued as the audience was soon transported across the Tasman to Aotearoa New Zealandas the Ngā Mātai Pūrua kapa haka group stepped onto the stage in traditional Māori dress, bringing with them the presence, rhythm and spirit of Māori culture.
It was a stellar performance from Marlon Williams, whose appearance marked one of his final shows before beginning an extended hiatus. His distinctive voice and understated stage presence held the audience throughout the evening. His gentle yet confident demeanour carried through the entire performance, creating an atmosphere that was both warm and engaging. His songs reflect the vast spaces, calm and wild beauty of the New Zealand landscape, while weaving stories of love, loss, personal reflection, cultural identity and belonging through his music.
For those unfamiliar with his work, the performance proved to be a wonderful discovery. Williams sang with warmth, feeling and a clear pride in his Ngāi Tahu Māori heritage. He wrote and recorded the album Te Whare Tīwekaweka entirely in te reo Māori, and several songs from this album were performed during the evening, including “Te Whare Tīwekaweka”, “Aua Atu Rā”, “Kei Te Mārama”, “Kāhore He Manu E” and “Ngā Ara Aroha”, all of which were accompanied by the Māori choir.
The concert then moved through a range of musical styles. Moving ballads such as “Beautiful Dress”, “Dark Child” and “Make Way for Love” were performed alongside alt-country favourites “My Boy” and “Hello Miss Lonesome”, while indie-folk songs including “I Didn’t Make a Plan”, “River Rival” and “What’s Chasing You” added variety to the set.
Williams held the audience throughout the evening, creating a strong connection through both his storytelling and distinctive voice. He was joined by The Yarra Benders — Dave Khan (violin/fiddle, electric guitar, backing vocals), Ben Woolley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Gus Agars (drums and percussion) — whose musicianship added richness and depth to the performance, alongside touring musician Dan Luscombe.
The generous encore, which included “Can I Call You” and “Thinking of Nina”, reflected Williams’ appreciation for the large audience gathered, including both Australians and visitors from Aotearoa New Zealand, and brought a memorable evening to a close.
