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Mid-week at the Gov. When the adorable Gin Wigmore performs, she showcases so much potential it’s almost blinding… And when Dan Sultan takes the stage, the wider world all but disappears, for his music draws you in, holds you tight and has you reeling in its glory for days on end…

Auckland-born singer-songwriter Virginia Wigmore (known to the world as Gin), is traversing the globe and tearing up stages at the tentative age of 23. She has toured with the likes of Pete Murray, David Grey, The Cardinals and most recently, Dan Sultan. Armed with an incredibly sexy, husky voice, an instantaneously lovable persona and a quirky aura, Gin simultaneously sings and prances around on stage, often working a guitar or ukulele. She has an EP and a debut album, Holy Smoke, under her belt, the latter notably recorded with The Cardinals. Neal Casal of The Cardinals describes the album as ‘completely ripping balls’, stating: “us Cardinal types are beyond stoked that we got to play on it”. Gin, with her combat boots and endearing childlike characteristics, expresses gratitude after each song and successfully captivates the audience like no other support act I’ve witnessed in recent times.

Enter Dan Sultan, charming, talented, enigmatic and armed with a myriad of Elvis-inspired mannerisms. Along with his band, Dan performs all but two songs from his second and most recent release, 2009s Get Out While You Can. He is the love child of the country, soul, rockabilly, blues and swing genres, and is evidently dedicated to delivering stand-out performances. A small smile plays on his lips as he sings the line “I played for you and I played it right” from the memorable tune Old Fitzroy.

Attempting to convey the integrity and honesty with which Dan performs is a futile task; one needs to experience him in person to fully appreciate the richness of his many talents. Dan’s tunes are lyrically enchanting, musically haunting, and exceedingly soulful; everything that Australian music should be. The band is tight; Scott Wilson shares mean guitar riffs, whilst Josh Jones provides thumping bass lines. Gina Woods and Peter Marin, on keys and drums respectively, and the two guys who provide funky trumpet and trombone input also deserve a mention.

Highlights include the brooding track Old Fitzroy, delivered with unparalleled candour, and Never Let You Down, a lyrically-powerful tune I find myself utterly consumed in. Dan jokes of “getting sentimental on your arses” before launching into more soulful tunes, such as Voices, during which his hurt is harvested into something wholly relatable and beautiful.

Dan’s polite, childlike giggles break up each song, during which the female counterparts noticeably bat their eyelashes harder, with more frankness, at the man they so desire. Dan’s uncles and cousins are present in tonight’s crowd, and he is brimming with love as he addresses them. The band swap genial smiles during every song, the vibe pleasant. Constantly pushing his hair to one side, Dan jokes that his band is all about reconciliation, due to the myriad of cultural backgrounds they possess.

During his more upbeat, rockabilly tunes, the crowd moves like a jellyfish and female fans urge Dan to dance. Dan points his toes and swivels his legs, his hips tremble and his lips unintentionally pout in concentration. One more debaucherous punter additionally screams for Dan to remove his tee, but unfortunately for her, this reality isn’t realized! Subsequent to an obtuse individual pelting a bottle of water at Dan, Dan informs the crowd that he grew up in Fitzroy and has thus experienced worse. It is, however, the first time he has experienced stage-throw behaviour… Well done, Adelaide…

Dan cradles an acoustic guitar and finishes with what he describes as his ‘family song’, entitled Roslyn from his 2008 release, Homemade Biscuits. It is a soulful, heart-wrenching tale of the tribulations his people were subjected to at the hands of the white man; it is a testament of not only his family’s reality, but the reality of innumerable Indigenous Australian families who suffered similar fates. He finishes by stating that he and his brother, Luke Sultan, will “never forget”. And as I stand listening, speechless amongst the still crowd, tears of empathy fill my eyes and I silently praise Dan Sultan for his unforgettable contribution to the sometimes stagnant Australian live music scene. “Dare I say it”, Dan Sultan, “you have won my heart”.

Setlist (Gin Wigmore):
Hey Ho
Don’t Stop
Under My Skin
Too Late For Lovers
Golden Ship
These Roses
I Do
One Last Look
Oh My

Setlist (Dan Sultan):
Come Home Tonight
Sorrowbound
I Like It
Fear Of Flying
Crazy
Letter
Old Fitzroy
Goddess Love
Walk Through My Dreams
Never Let You Down
Lonesome Tears
Voices
Fool
Your Love Is Like A Song
Cadillac and a Mustang
Money
Roslyn

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.