BMA Presents Women of NotesVol. 3 @ Transit Bar,Canberra, 27/10/11

Mon 31st Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

It was a relatively balmy evening on the night of the third instalment of the BMA Women of Notes series. For those who aren’t aware, Women of Notes is a special, female-artists-only series that showcases the musical talent of Australian women.

Although Transit Bar was quiet, the venue gradually filled up as the evening kicked off. First up, Nichola Weatherly of The Sodapops wooed the crowd with a set of mellow, but captivating acoustic songs, that highlighted her amazing vocal capacity, and had the entire audience in love with her in two minutes flat. Her voice was stunning, and she masterfully handled first the piano, and then guitar, seamlessly weaving her way through each song without a single hiccup. Her cover of The White Stripes’ In The Cold Cold Night as a tribute to the much-overlooked Meg White was a distinct favourite.

After a lengthy set-up, Natalie Magee hit the stage to much adulation. It was immediately apparent why this young lady is somewhat of a local star – her vocals were crisp and clear, and her talent self-evident. Even so, the set felt a little flat at times, and despite the receptivity of the audience, the energy level wavered throughout her performance. By this point the crowd had grown, but by the same token, so had the general noise level, and the music was drowned out slightly by the chatter of too many people who seemed unaware that they were even at a gig.

Next up was Cherie Kotek, who changed the atmosphere immediately by showcasing her fast-paced, guitar-driven music that was perfectly complemented by her rich, rusty vocals, and that contrasted starkly with the mellow sets that preceded her. The crowd immediately got excited by the string of energetic songs, and Kotek’s banter with the audience was welcomed. Despite the enthusiasm, however, the set dragged towards the end, with Cherie playing two more songs than the other musicians, and as a result, the crowd started thinning by the time Caroline Wallace was ready to take the stage.
However, the swoony songstress played valiantly to the remaining audience, and her set was full of the sort of moonlighty, soulful ambiance that is perfect for a quiet Thursday evening. Her band helped fill out the sound, and each song was textured and well-rounded.

Women of Notes Volume Three was a quieter affair than the previous two installations have been, and there was certainly a sense of the evening having not been publicized very well. However, the night reminded Canberrans of the fact that there is so much talent in our city that goes overlooked, especially in the fairer sex. In many ways, the laid back gig was a further tribute to the quiet-achieving nature of so many Australian women!