THE TESKEY BROTHERS – MT DUNEED – GEELONG – 11.01.2025
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: Jason Rosewarne
It was a hot but glorious afternoon out at A Day On The Green (ADOTG) seeing The Teskey Brothers, Band of Horses, Sierra Ferrell, CMAT and Charlie Needs Braces. A scorching 35 degrees didn’t keep punters away today as they soaked up the sun and music at Mt Duneed in Geelong.
We arrived just in time to catch the last two songs of Melbourne band Charlie Needs Braces. A solo project by Naarm-based musician Charlie Woods and her sister Miri. Charlie is a proud GuriNgai woman and direct descendent of Bungaree and Matora. Their music features original compositions with live looping, and is uplifting music, weaving together stories, language and layered harmonies inspired by Charlie’s learnings about her family’s Aboriginal heritage.
Irish singer, songwriter and musician Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson known as CMAT was a breath of fresh air on this hot day. CMAT is a real character and has a cracker sense of humour that had the crowd laughing and thoroughly enjoying her show. CMAT blew us away with her incredible, natural vocals and music. Her 5-piece band (drummer, slide guitar, keyboardist, lead guitar, bass guitar) were all wearing CMAT shirts and shorts and looked like they were having so much fun on stage. CMAT commented about our beautiful country and hot weather and then laughed and said ‘excuse me’ as she blew her nose and announced she was suffering from hayfever. Considering how hot it was, CMAT was so energetic and worked the stage well dressed in a long sleave white shirt and yellow tie, black shorts with fishnet stockings, white cowboy boots and a pair of black shades. She engaged well with the audience and I noticed some of her Irish fans proudly held up the Irish flag. One fan gave CMAT a packet of Allens lollies which she loved. CMAT played songs from her two successful studio albums If My Wife New I’d Be Dead (2022) and Crazymad, for Me (2023) and the standout songs were Aw, Shoot and Stay for Something.
If you get the opportunity, definitely try and see CMAT at one of the upcoming ADOTG shows or catch her at one of her side shows –
14 January 2025 Northcote Theatre, Vic (SOLD OUT)
16 January 2025 The Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW (SOLD OUT)
American singer-songwriter and musician Sierra Ferrell from West Virginia was next and her music is a blend of Americana country, bluegrass, folk, gypsy jazz and Latin styles such as tango and calypso which totally won over the crowd. The stage and her microphone stand were decorated in flowers and Ferrell looked striking in her red glittered cowboy boots and cowboy hat. Ferrell played acoustic guitar and fiddle during her show and her band consisted of a double bass player, drummer, violinist and mandolin player. I saw a few of the crowd boot scootin’ and latin dancing during her diverse set. Ferrell played a wonderful set of her music and highlighted her versatility with songs such as: Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County, a wonderful cover version of Kris Kristofferson’s Me and Bobby McGee (and mentioned Janis Joplin had also done an incredible cover of this song), American Dreaming, Dollar Bill Bar, In Dreams, Money Train, Fox Hunt, I Could Drive You Crazy. Throughout Ferrell’s set, there were certainly songs that sounded a little like Dolly Parton and she has been known to cover Dolly at past shows with songs like Here I Am. Sierra also came across as a very kind and beautiful person that cares for people and the world as a whole, constantly saying to look after each other and have each others’ back as our leaders don’t (lol).
Sierra Ferrell new album Trail of Flowers (2025) is an absolute ripper! My only criticism about Ferrell’s show was it was too short and both myself and the crowd wanted more. Ferrell was amazing and I would strongly recommend seeing her at one of the ADOTG shows or one of Ferrell’s side shows –
14 January 2025 Enmore Theatre, Sydney
16 January 2025 Forum Theatre, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
American rockers Band of Horses (BoH) from Seattle, Washington led by singer-songwriter Ben Bridwell played a blend of Southern Rock, Indie & Folk Rock. There were plenty of BoH fans in the audience getting right into their music, dancing and singing along to their songs. BoH played an 11-song set providing a nice mix of their back catalogue – The First Song, The Great Salt Lake, Is There A Ghost, Laredo, Crutch, Factory, No One’s Gonna Love You, Casual Party, Ode to LRC, The Funeral and The General Specific. The organ player had a few technical issues on stage when he was to switch from organ to guitar, but they pushed on through. Personally, their brand of soft rock didn’t inspire me as much as CMAT and Sierra Ferrell’s dynamic performances prior but I realise everyone has different music tastes and there were certainly BoH fans that loved them. Oddly, when Bridwell broke a guitar string and had to finish the song without his guitar, I felt he lifted and engaged with the audience more.
Band of Horses only Australian headline show is –Wednesday 15 January 2025 at Enmore Theatre, Sydney. Tickets on sale from Ticketek. All ticket and event info: https://mg.live/bandofhorses
The Teskey Brothers headlined todays ADOTG. The Teskeys grew up in the outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne in Warrandyte not far from me. Brothers Josh (vocals/rhythm guitar/harmonica) and Sam Teskey (lead guitar) formed the band back in 2008 and have gone on to have massive success with their distinctive style of soul, blues and gospel music.
I’ve seen the Teskeys numerous times over the past 15 years and saw them at the very beginning of their career around 2008 at my cousin’s (Kaz & Brett) Full Moon Party on their private property literally just before Teskeys became well known due to a Chris Hemsworth post that went viral about the band. Over the years, I have watched them gain popularity globally by fans of all ages and genres.
Josh Teskey’s soulful, raw, gravelly voice is remarkable and his performance is mesmerising. He reminds me of some of the greats like Otis Redding and the recently departed Sam Cooke. Josh sings straight from the heart and soul and he comes across as a beautiful person engaging well with their fans. He speaks openly and honestly about the universal truths of love, pain and the complexities of human experience.
His brother Sam Teskey is an incredibly talented virtuosic guitarist and played numerous solos throughout the show. They were also accompanied with a trumpet player (Audrey Powne) and saxophonist (Lily Shaw) who both provided backing vocals along with bass player (Fabian Hunter), organ/percussion/piano (Hector McLachlan) and drummer (Nicholas Lawrence).
Their music and sound is very natural, pure and grounding, featuring feel-good, heartfelt lyrics. Hearing songs like Pain and Misery, So Caught Up, Crying Shame and Hold Me just blew me away.
Half way through the show, the band left the stage and Josh announced they were going to sing a ‘campfire song.’ Josh, Sam and Fabian remained on stage and each played guitar and performed an acoustic song called Carry Me Home from The Winding Way (2023) album. At this stage of the evening, the skyline looked amazing and it had cooled down quite a bit, making for a pleasant evening at an outdoor music festival.
The Teskeys performed 4 songs from their latest 2023 album – Take My Heart, London Bridge and What Will Be. During London Bridge, Josh welcomed trumpet player Audrey to sing the main vocals for part of the song.
The evening concluded with Teskeys singing Hold Me, certainly an audience favourite and the crowd harmonised with the band like a gospel choir as they sang:
“Hold Me, don’t hold me down, Carry me, but keep my feet on the ground.”
I have been attending ADOTG concerts for almost 25 years now and absolutely love them. They have staged some of the biggest Acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Robbie Williams, Blondie, Elton John, Sting, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chris Isaak and Leonard Cohen, just to name a few. There is just so much to love about ADOTG outdoor music festivals and they are a great way to get out amongst it and socialise with other music lovers.
Attending this ADOTG concert series was the perfect way to spend an enjoyable Saturday afternoon and evening with some good friends, food, drinks and of course wonderful music. Life is good!
A Day On The Green (ADOTG) with Teskey Brothers, Band of Horses, Sierra Ferrell, CMAT and Charlie Needs Braces –
12 January 2025 ADOTG (Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, NSW)
18 January 2025 ADOTG (Bimbadgen Estate Winery, Hunter Valley, NSW)
19 January 2025 ADOTG (Sirronet Wines, Mount Cotton, QLD)
SET LIST FOR THE TESKEY BROTHERS:
I Love A Woman
Pain and Misery
Man of the Universe
Crying Shame
Take My Heart
So Caught Up
I Get Up
Rain
Carry Me Home (campfire song with Josh, Sam & Fabian)
Shiny Moon
London Bridge
Paint My Heart
What Will Be
Encore:
Forever You and Me
Hold Me
