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It was a picturesque evening in the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery for the conclusion of the sold out Starry Nights series. Tim Rogers topped off a lineup which featured The Black Sorrows and Clare Bowditch and he drew it to a close with aplomb.

Starry Nights was put on in conjuncture with the Gallery’s Masterpieces from Paris and a ticket to any of the four nights also provided free late night entry to the exhibit, which features paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Gauguin, and many other classic Post-Impressionist works. This is a groundbreaking collection of masterpieces to have in Australia, and the season has been extended ‘till 18 April – don’t miss out! As the headlining acts performed, some of the works were projected onto the building behind, bringing the music and the artworks together – spectacular.

As the sun set, Starry Night ticket holders lounged around in the Sculpture Garden basked in fairy lights, drinking wine and champagne from the Pol Roger Sculpture Bar and listening to the Liam Budge Quartet. Later, Tim Rogers would complain that the quartet were too handsome to go on before a ‘cantankerous middle aged musician’, but for taking in the atmosphere, the ANU School of Music students provided the perfect jazz soundtrack. The exhibit itself had a steady flow of people right up until closing, yet come 9 pm everyone gathered in the Garden to see Australian legend Tim Rogers take to the stage.

Roger’s solo sound is very different from the grunge rock of You Am I, the rest of his band included a violin, cello, mandolin, drums and bass, and the result is a mellow, and at times country and blues vibe. Unlike his performances with You Am I, last night Rogers remained fully clothed, although he did apologise for his attire, ‘I thought it was the Dennis Hopper photo exhibition…’, his trademark dry wit and self deprecating humour remain the same! Rogers kept up banter with the audience all night, responding to some friendly heckling and joking with all the members of his band. ‘Ian just flew in from Tokyo half an hour ago…’ Rogers said about his drummer, Ian Kitney, ’...and boy are my arms tired!’ Kitney, Roger’s longtime musical partner, added, ‘All the classics are being exhibited here tonight!’ Rogers quipped with a grin.

The band played a cover here and there, including Oooh La La by The Faces, and a You Am I classic, Heavy Heart. Rogers crooned ‘I miss you like sleep, and there’s nothing romantic about the hours I keep’ with passion, and it was a highlight of the performance. They went offstage without an encore, but the audience were still perfectly satisfied and hesitant to leave their beautiful surroundings. Starry Nights’ slogan was Immerse Yourself In An Art-full Experience and seeing the Tim Rogers Band perform was just that.

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