I just want to put it out there: The Toff In Town resides among my favorite live venues in-and-around Melbourne. Admittedly, however, it had been a while between drinks. Canberra’s Ashleigh Mannix provided the perfect re-introduction to the Toff, as I entered and instantly remembered why I love the place.

Mannix plays a pleasant variety of tunes, dipping her toes into folk, country, and pop genres. Essentially, she’s everything an acoustic support slot requires: a great deal of strength, confidence, and vocal charisma to carry one to the headline act. Mannix has an excellent, powerful voice, and she’s not afraid to use it – her words, rich with emotion, crisp and resonate, travel to each corner to the room effortlessly. I was soon very much interested in how her songs would work with a band. That said, she certainly holds her own: as an acoustic support, it can be difficult to avoid monotony, and entertain a crowd from beginning to end. Mannix, however, passed with flying colors, with songs from her EP, The Mirror, and the jaunty Power Of A Girl to close out the set. As Mannix left the stage, the noticably-timid Toff audience seemed especially appreciative of a pleasantly surprising beginning to the evening.

There’s a good chance you’d know Abby Dobson, even if the name Leonardo’s Bride doesn’t ring a bell. Its the voice. Its so instantly recognizable, and practically undeniable, that half way through her first song, we – the audience – knew full well of the brilliant evening that lay ahead. Dobson was joined on stage by a cellist, guitarist and keyboardist, continuing the percussion-less trend of the evening. I’m Not Missing You (featured on the popular television program The Secret Life Of Us) was particularly mesmerizing, as Dobson and co. professed in raw emotion, showcasing lush, powerful arrangements. Stories concerning her writing process were told between songs, providing valuable and interesting insights into one of Australia’s most respected and successful female singer-songwriters.

Dobson simply could not stop smiling. She literally beamed throughout the set, and it was clear she still savors the thrill and the sheer joy of performing. The band combined expertly in harmony for the solemn, yet hopeful See What The Morning Brings, before launching into new single Horses. And then, finally, it was time for that voice to sing that song. Even When I’m Sleeping was, quite simply, shivers-down-the-spine stuff. An encore ensued, and the title track from her solo record Rise Up provided a delicate finale to what had been a thoroughly entertaining set.

Its inescapable: Dobson’s career with Leonardo’s Bride will almost always be defined by the brilliance of one song. But its evenings like these that she proves that she is bigger than one song, and then some. In short, everyone needs to turn their heads and tune their ears accordingly, because Abby Dobson is back – and she’s doing great things.