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Dan Sultan is a rising star, thanks to his turn in the Aussie musical Bran Nue Dae. But Sultan is a musician, not an actor, and on Saturday night, UC Refectory was treated to a fantastic night of pumping tunes.

In town for his Get Out While You Can tour, Dan Sultan and his band brought New Zealand songbird Gin Wigmore and fellow Melbournites The Hello Morning along for the ride .

Because of great schedule-keeping over at UC, unfortunately this reviewer arrived late and missed the first support, The Hello Morning. All reports point to an entertaining set, providing some pop-rock tunes to get the night started.

Next, Gin Wigmore jumped up on stage with her band, and the whole place shook in anticipation.

Up on stage, surrounded by four guys towering over her, Wigmore seems petitie and unassuming, but that idea is shattered in an instant. There’s something about the petite Kiwi’s voice that immediately grabs your attention, and holds it throughout the whole time she is in the spotlight. Wigmore has such a strong, husky, raspy voice; unlike anything anyone has ever heard in recent times.

The fast-growing audience warmed up to Wigmore’s easy-going performance, singing along and dancing up a storm. At one point, she ditched her guitar midway through a song, explaining later that ‘the fucken’ string broke’.

Combining pop, country, rock with a touch of jazz, Wigmore entertained and made Canberra fall in love with her.

Finally, headline act Dan Sultan and his band were up. The UC Refec was packed out by this stage, and the crowd prepared for the best part of the night.

Ever the entertainer, Sultan was engaging to watch as he joked around with the band members and told the crowd funny stories. “On this tour, I’ve spent more time in the last four days at uni than I did when I was enrolled”.

The band was tight and well rehearsed, with an air of spontaneity. The crowd loved the pumping big band numbers, and many knew the words to even the most indecipherable lyrics.

Sultan’s music can only be described as big. Big sound, big numbers, big voice. It is a mix of jazz, country, classic rock n’ rock and swing, and a few other bars of random genres, plus one of the strongest voices in the Aussie music scene.

At one point, Sultan shared singing duties with songwriting partner and guitarist Scott Wilson. According to folk law, Sultan met Wilson at a pub in Melbourne’s outer suburbs when he was 17, and a perfect match was made.

Dan Sultan and his band are amazing performers, with an energy that gives them an edge. It’s this energy that the crowd loves, and Canberra should look forward to his return.

CHECK OUT THE PICS HERE!