The rise of Gin Wigmore into the world of music has been one that when viewed from the outside would seem to be a blessed one. In 2004, after beating 11,000 songwriting aspirants from 77 countries to become the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner of the US-based International Songwriting Competition. Since then Wigmore has worked and toured with the likes of John Butler, Pete Murray, John Mellancamp and Sheryl Crow.
Earlier this year she released her debut album Holy Smoke, which features members of Ryan Adams backing band The Cardinals – Neal Casal, Jon Graboff and Brad Pemberton – and they have travelled to Australia to perform with Gin in her east coast shows.
So with such esteemed music royalty backing her up, it was no surprise that it was a supremely confident Gin Wigmore who graced the stage of the Northcote Social Club on Tuesday night. Giving the crowd a healthy mix of the chirpy pop from her 2008 EP, aptly titiled Extended Play, and the more blues inspired rock numbers off her Holy Smoke album. Gin was quick to ensnare the audience with her charms, talent and stage presence, and for the most part the audience seemed to be in some sort of a trance.
Clearly loving her, the punters were eager to show their support, with a healthy dose of cheers in-between songs. In a live setting Gin’s vocals are just as rich and powerful as they are on record, which when paired with the ever-professional Cardinals, turns Gin’s rustic, folkish songs, into polished musical odysseys.
Gin also had the opportunity to demonstrate her considerable musical talent playing the guitar on songs and then the ukelele on I Do, and the audience was also treated to the award winning track Hallelujah -the heart-breaking and poignent song that Gin wrote for her father when he died, which along with recent hit Oh My were highlights of the night.
Drawing obvious comparisons to other accomplished soul sisters such as Duffy and Amy Winehouse, it was made crystal clear during her performance at the Northcote Social Club that Gin Wigmore is someone with a huge amount of talent and a very bright future, and it really was a great night of music.
to listen to their music now on 
