Green Hats, Bum boxes, tattoos and Australian Flags…....

What was quite a warm afternoon in the nations’ capital, on the eve of Australia Day, got even hotter as some of Australia’s best acts (young and old) hit the stage at the Australia Day Live concert on the lawns of Parliament House.

While waiting anxiously for the evenings’ entertainment to begin, it was great to see organisers playing Australian musicians on the big screens side of stage. Artists that included Michael Paynter, Shannon Noll and Kaz James. Later in the night it would be Men at Work and Cold Chisel.

As usual Michael Popes’ jokes were appalling yet mildly entertaining as he warmed up the crowd between sets and getting the audience up on stage for so participatory activities.

First act up was Trial Kennedy. With their brash rock sounds and heart pounding vocals from lead singer Tim Morrison, they hit us with their new single Sunday Warning off their new album New Manic Art as well as Colour Day Tours. Lastly was the tune Neighbours which had the lyrics ‘wake up the neighbours…’ and that they did because if people on their bums at the beginning they sure weren’t by the end. These guys brought the crowd to their feet. If you hadnt heard of Trial Kennedy before, you were definitely going home to add them to your MySpace.

In contrast, next was Adelaide’s electro pop outfit, Lovers Electric. Their sound could be described as magnetic with an 80’s feel. Eden’s voice and David’s multi-tasking instrument playing had us stunned (may also have something to do with Eden’s spacegirl dress). Playing their new single Could this Be as well as Honey and Start again.

Next had Jessica Mauboy taking the stage with her one piece black short jumpsuit. The crowd went wild. I’m sure this was the act that most of the younger punters had come for. Starting off with her hit These Days that had featured US sensation Flo Rida, she ended her set with Burn, which is currently Number 1 on Australian Charts. The song was originally penned for a male voice and slower in delivery, but Mauboy took it and ran, rocking it up to what it is today. Her talent underestimated on Australian Idol, she is now showing everyone out there what can be done and what is achievable by a new Australian artist today.

Standing, waiting, two very svelt, glistening black bodies emerged from the wings of the stage. This marked the start of Natalie Bassingthwaite’s set. Pumping out Alive and then new single One Thousand Stars, everyone was jumping with excitement as our favourite Neighbours villain showed us just how you should wear black leather pants and how you shouldn’t wear a boob tube top….with a costume malfunction almost happening with each number she did. Finishing with Catch me If you Can, her music slightly different and not as hardhitting as with the Rouge Traders, however Bassingthwaite owns her solo sound there is no denying that.

With a lengthy intermission between this show, recorded for Video Hits, and the next, recorded for Max TV, we were in awe of just how bad jokes can get with Michael Pope taking to the stage again.

With five acts to go, a fair amount of people left which was surprising; they must have seen what they wanted to see. The crowd now mainly consisted of the older generations as well as some culture teens who actually knew who Wendy Matthews or Brian Cadd were.

First up on the second half of the schedule was Dan Kelly and the Ukeladies. Well, were do I start. Yes he is Paul Kellys nephew and that unique sounding voice has definitely been passed down the gene pool to him. With a – œdo’ that would rival Chris Isaak and Elvis, Dan Kelly gave us a running commentary on what his lyrics were based on just in case we didn’t understand. He performed Fire and Theft as a solo. On his own he was great, but then the Ukeladies came out. On that note I will stop. They all sang the SUV Song and then followed up with his hit Dandenong Station. With the acts that were to follow I wasn’t sure whether they had accidently booked – œDan’ Kelly instead of – œPaul’ Kelly. This we will never know.

I cannot even begin to describe the next performance. After playing earlier during the Australian of the Year ceremony, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu graced the stage with a presence a rockstar would envy. All eyes were on this humble Aboriginal man who had just flown in from New York after playing at an Australia week celebration. He entranced and mesmerized onlookers as he sang in his native language. With a voice that pierces your soul and give you goosebumps from start to finish, Gurrumul sang tunes from his self titled ARIA award winning album. No, we had no idea what he was saying but his melodic voice fed our minds and had us listening like eager school children. If you are someone that has not heard Gurrumul’s music, become someone that has.

Wendy Matthews, will the lady ever change. Perfect in every way, voice like an angel…she was everything and more to the crowd at the concert. Singing her old hits The Day You Went Away, If Only I Could and Lets Kiss (Like Angels Do) together with Fallen Angels, a new single off her new album She, Matthews still has what it takes to rock a crowd of thousands.

Out came the big black piano, followed closely by the ARIA Hall of Fame recipient Brian Cadd. Mostly known for his work behind the scenes, Cadd pipes still hold a note and this showman can get the even most dubious of crowds waving lighters (or mobile as in this case) to his tunes. Belting out a Farnham classic Don’t You Know It’s Magic, which he in fact penned, then onto Little Ray of Sunshine,Cadd started to wind the crowd down from what had been a very long day, setting up for the last artist of the night.

Jon Schumann was last to play the stage. Renowned for his song I Was Only 19, which he performed with every bit of grit and passion as the day it was written. He also did his own rendition of Cold Chisel classic When the war is over, which was unrecognisable except for the lyrics. Tempo slowed to a standstill, he probably should have chosen one of his own as a second song in his set.

To end the nights proceeding, Schumann stayed on stage and invited Cadd and Matthews to join him as they sang Waltzing Matilda which was the perfect ending to what was all in all a perfect evening with fellow Aussies. AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE…OI OI OI!