It was a pleasure to head down to Melbourne’s 170 Russell venue last Sunday to catch the magic that is Vera Blue.

The end of her long tour around the country surely made the atmosphere in the venue thrive. A show on a Sunday night is a risk, with work the next morning on their mind seemed irrelevant to most patrons. Drinks flowed as we had the define Thandi Phoenix and Lakyn starting off the nights proceedings. With vibes on point it was the Sydney singer-songwriter Vera Blue aka Celia Pavey, we were all here to see.

The night went off with a true sceptical, in her white ensemble and chunky white boots she stood under a spot light and her ethereal vocals spilled all over the basement under china town. Energy was high as she smashed a drum just behind her. As the lights fluttered at high speeds it was hard to gauge what was going on. Vera Blue appeared to be running around the stage but at the same time you couldn’t look away.

“This is the last night of the tour guys and we are going to give it everything we’ve got”, she stated. That she did. Overachiever was the highlight of the first part of the set. This dynamic emotive track showed her range vocally as it yo-yoed throughout. Coming from the 2017 release, Perennial, it combines her eclectic style of folk to electronic. Making the set that even more special, and what has become a ritual in her shows, showering the crowd with flowers, making a real intimate moment. She sure is diverse, performing a track that she featured on with Slumberjack called Fracture a more heavier electronic tune, a mesmerising moment yet again.

Going to bring it down with a song called We Used To, she also requested for the crowd to turn their phone lights on to create a starry night scene. “I’ve only tried this a couple of times”. This sublime moment pulled off, and was truly atmospheric. And to shift gears, like that we were off in a completely different tangent. Bringing Woodes and Tandy Phoenix up on stage for Lady Powers together the fierce vocals and choreography on point. This bold track unlike any other in her catalogue, she pulls it off completely. Reiterating that coming out on a cold Melbourne Sunday night totally worth it.

Jumping on her acoustic guitar for Pedestal, it was a sight to see her stripped back, again showing off her enormous vocals. An opportune point to start to wind down her set, but not before she performed her most notorious track, Hold. Her vocals bursting through the venue and irrupting a huge sing along. If only we could all reach those impossible notes like she did, making it too look easy. Emphasising that she is one strong force and that she is destined for immense greatness.

Photos: Liz Stephens