CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE!

Folk pop brother/sister duo Angus & Julia Stone filled a stuffy ANU Bar to full capacity on Tuesday 16 March.

The sold out show saw punters line up for more than an hour, with the line stretching through the bar’s back terrace, up into the uni courtyard and all the way back to the car park.

This seemed an interesting contrast to their last Canberra show, in 2007, where the UCU Bar sat only one quarter filled. Three years on, and only days since their new album release, Down the Way, Angus & Julia are hot property.

The stage was set up as a warm lounge room setting, a vibe perfect for their laid back, folk sound. A lamp reflected patterns across the wallpapered backdrop and intricate picture frames hung from string.

After a wait that felt like ‘forever’ Julia Stone emerged, ravishing in a full length spearmint chiffon frock and golden, tousled waves. Her smile, as always, lit up the stage and the eager crowd roared. Scruffy in a denim shirt and bowler hat, Angus Stone followed behind, with the duo’s new band in tow.

The band opened with And the Boys showing off a new, highly polished, more mature sound that deepened the contrast between this show and their last. Julia danced around the stage, laughing and twirling, setting an air of ‘fun’ over the stage and crowd.

Down The Way marks more than a new, highly produced sound, it also marks the pair’s debut as producers. The tracks reveal a development of their sound, without losing the spirit of their debut.

Tonight, a handful of the new material was on display, possessing a tighter, funkier and fuller sound, while still retaining folk charm. This new chapter was brought to life by their new band, Matt, Rob and Jake, who were flown in from New York for this tour.

Julia reveals that tonight was in fact Angus & Julia’s first show together in 9 months, with Canberra kicking off the first stop of their international And The Boys tour. The pair apologised for their ‘rustiness’ which clearly wasn’t evident. They did however opt for a more relaxed set list, deciding the crux on the spot and taking audience requests.

New electric guitar driven tracks like Hold On, popped out, alongside old, heartfelt favourites like Wasted and Chocolates and Cigarettes. Despite this, the crowd still roared for radio hits, such as Paper Aeroplane, and more of Angus, whose quieter stage presence has always sat secondary to Julia’s.

A charming addition to the set was Julia’s solo rendition of Grease’s You’re the One That I Want. The classic took a new shape as a slow acoustic track riddled with sadness and heartbreak.

Angus & Julia Stone have managed to retain the charm and innocence of A Book Like This and take it to a new, exciting level with Down The Way. The show marked a new confidence, new chapter and no doubt countless future accolades for the brother/sister duo.

CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE!