REVIEW: DAN SULTAN W/ THE TESKEY BROTHERS TWILIGHT @ TARONGA

Photo: Liam Pethick

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there is nothing comparable to the magic of Twilight at Taronga’s live music series.”

The allure of a venue like Taronga has the power to give you a sold out crowd even when the weather feels better suited to staying in. Satuday night saw the entire lawn blanketed in couples, families, friends who’d opted to don a poncho or simply brave the rain, rather than miss the magic of Dan Sultan and The Teskey Brothers in such a special setting.

And luckily enough, the sun crept through as the show began; couples slow-dancing to the soulful croon of The Teskey Brothers, wrapped in each other, and their own worlds. The clouds that threatened to drench us all instead gave way to the sun, and flooded the amphitheatre in a golden light.

Dan Sultan took to the stage, giving us a cheeky “What are you all doing here?” causing kids to fly down the paths, eager for a closer look (a testament to the musical education they’d already received in their short lives). 

‘Kimberly Calling’ began the set, followed by tracks both old and new, often interjected by Sultan’s endearing snippets of conversation slipped between verses, “I cry at insurance ads”. With a voice like Sultan’s, you occasionally forget about the musician’s exceptional guitar skills – that is, until he delivers a scorching solo - “You’re welcome,” he says with a wink.

Closing the show with a solo rendition of ‘Nobody Knows’, the rare encore was the perfect ending to a perfect night. “Nobody knows by love for you” was met by a chorus of, “We do,” from several members of the audience, eliciting a grin from the frontman, before leaving the stage on a high – yet another spectacularly successful show for the Twilight at Taronga series. 

Written by: Sheri Young