It’s an easy evening of listening at the Grace Darling tonight with three bands on the bill, culminating in Charlie Mayfair – the very sweet, very talented Brisbane four-piece (who work as a five-piece live) on tour in support of their latest EP, Fall In Time.

Here for support are local hay balers Dirt Farmer and Sydney folk duo, The Falls.

It’s a true question mark as to why the room isn’t a bit fuller with the quality on show, nevertheless it’s a treat to be in such musical presence.

The Falls are still riding a long wave of success off of Triple J favourite “Home” and they slip it into their set with ease amongst their other, less well known tracks.

Another highlight is their EP title track, “Hollywood”, written in dedication to the hotel the duo – made up of vocalist Melinda Kirwin and vocalist/guitarist Simon Rudston-Brown – have been playing at for a couple of years.

They’re definitely seasoned players and their patience is put on show as their short set is besieged with technical problems.

Dirt Farmer are a tired lot tonight, having been in the recording studio for the last 35 hours. They share a load of laughs, tired stretches and delirium with the growing crowd.

“Kick It” and “Johnny Marble” get the punters grooving and the band’s sleepy silliness is enjoyed just as much. While the boys themselves – led by vocalist and guitarist Stu Barlow – play looser than what their brand of rock n roll requires, the fun they have is palpable despite the puffy eyes.

Brisbane continues to produce a tonne of bands covering all shades of music that it shouldn’t come as a surprise any longer. Charlie Mayfair is no exception and come on stage as brooding and strong as their soundscape opener.

Then lead singer Hannah Shepherd opens her mouth and her stage banter is the true surprise. In complete juxtaposition to the ambient, vocally-layered music Charlie Mayfair create, Shepherd delights and brightens the room with her affable, sincere and carefree chatter.

You know you’re in for a humorous treat when she introduces, “this next one is about stalking someone…” with an unashamed grin. But with the intensity with which the lyrics are delivered (You will never hear me/because I will never tell you), it’s hard not to fall in love with the stalker of the story.

“Tell Her” and “If I Fell Down”, from their 2010 EP, are slices of atmospheric pop while their latest single, “Waste You” is chock full of their now signature harmonies. The young musicians prove deft to putting audiences into a trance but brighten things up a bit with a superb cover of Lykke Li’s “I’m Good I’m Gone”.

Shepherd and fellow vocalist/synth player Irena Lysiuk share beguiling, self-deprecating humour between one another and out toward the crowd, helping to reel them in from the edge of becoming too entrenched in the heavy tunes they play.

The Brisbane band have some studio time coming up now this mini ‘Spring Tour’ is over and whatever they have planned – whether it be their debut album or another EP of harmonising beauties – coming our way next, listeners will wait with baited breath after this particularly promising performance.

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