Womadelaide Day 3: Tash Sultana, Kaiit, Miiesha | Adelaide Festival 2021 review
The closing chapter of a triple bill featuring Miiesha and Kaiit, Tash Sultana’s set felt like a jam session rather than a gig.
Adelaide Festival
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Womadelaide
March 7
King Rodney Park / Ityamai-itpina
It might have been a watered down WOMAD this year, but Aussie multi-instrumentalist Tash Sultana still delivered the brilliantly familiar on Sunday night.
The closing chapter of a triple bill featuring Miiesha and Kaiit, Sultana avoided everything bar Pretty Lady from their latest record Terra Firma.
A 90-minute set dedicated to the late music mogul Michael “MG” Gudinski, it felt like a jam session rather than a gig, with Sultana’s first three songs coming in just under 40 minutes.
The Melburnian is clearly stoked to be back on the big stage, too, admitting they’d mostly played to their two dogs for most of 2020.
“I feel like I’m in my living room and you’re all watching it,” Sultana says.
Little wonder then that punters stood from their chairs to dance.
Peak Tash remains their intoxicating soundscapes (Gemini) and unbridled thrash; they are ultimately a rocker at heart, revelling in the big riff moments of Cigarettes, Big Smoke, Synergy and Notion.
Fully immersed in their work, Sultana’s facial expressions are also many and varied, like they are birthing numerous musical babies.
Earlier, Papua New Guinean singer Kaiit proves to be the embodiment of soul and spunk.
Much like WOMAD this year, it’s a stripped back production which allows the ARIA Award winner’s vibrant stage presence and personality to shine.
She ends her charming set with 2019 hit Miss Shiney and a promise to fans that her next batch of new material will be the best yet.
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