So, Paul Kelly Played A Surprise BIGSOUND Gig...

The rumours started coming in the late afternoon. The keynote speaker at BIGSOUND, that legendary poet, songwriter and performer, Paul Kelly (pic above by Owen Butcher) was going to perform. The question is, who would get in? The Music managed to sneak inside and along with just 449 other fans, we witnessed an intimate performance that will go down in history.

It was suitable that The Zoo, a venue with its own prestigious history, would host one of Australia's greatest story tellers. Kelly's resurgence in recent years is in response to his continuing creativity and prolific songwriting. Tonight, we were the first audience to experience new tracks from his upcoming 24th album, Nature. Little Wolf started the night and lead into another new track. "That's the first time we've played that in front of people," declared Kelly. He followed these with the latest single, With The One I Love and another new track, Bastard Like Me.

It's a privilege to witness brand new tracks from an album still to be revealed and the industry-heavy crowd appreciate this fact with loud admiration. Kelly, along with his all-star band, Peter Luscombe on drums, Bill McDonald on bass, Ash Naylor and Dan Kelly on guitars, and Cameron Bruce on keyboards — plus vocals from the Bull sisters, are on fire, diving into old tracks,  To Her Door and the APRA award winning, Firewood & Candles.

This is no short set. We get to hear Vika Bull's ripping rendition of My Man's Got A Cold as Kelly, a man of few words, introduces his band gradually between songs. The band seem to be enjoying themselves as much as the crowd as Dan Kelly cheekily teases a Guns N' Roses track as the guitarists decide who plays what.

Ultimately, the biggest reactions come from classics, Dumb Things and his ultimate track, How You Make Gravy. It's a joyous set and the lucky few in the room have plenty of fodder to keep their friends and colleagues jealous for years to come. "Look after each other," proclaims Paul Kelly - we certainly will try, as day two of BIGSOUND comes to a triumphant end.