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WOMADELAIDE
DAY 2
@ King Rodney Park, Adelaide
6th March 2021
(Live Review)

Review and Photos – Deb Kloeden

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The barmy summer weather continued in Adelaide for Day 2 of the Womadelaide Festival. Opening the day’s performances was MRLN X RKM, an emerging new rap act from Adelaide. Marlon Motlop (AKA MRLN) is embarking on a music career after nailing it as a successful footballer. MC Rulla Kelly-Mansell (AKA RKM) has emerged on the bright side after successfully beating cancer. Both are from indigenous backgrounds and are part of the exciting inaugural Womadelaide x NSS Academy aimed at supporting emerging South Australian First Nations and multicultural artists. The Womad gig was their biggest audience to date and they gave a very professional show. RKM is a natural rapper with a gift for story telling. He worked the stage like a pro, looking completely confident and experienced. Charismatic MRLN was a real natural on vocals and guitar. They were joined on stage by a full indigenous backing band. Huge congrats to them all.

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As the sun lowered bringing on the golden hour, the immensely popular soulful sister act, Vika & Linda brought their charm to Adelaide. Well know as backing singers for the likes of Paul Kelly and The Black Sorrows in particular, as well as recording with a host of other notary Australian artists, Vika & Linda stepped forward to the front of the stage taking all the lime light in their stride. They treated the crowd to an all-encompassing set, covering rock, soul, gospel, country and blues. Their stage performance is instinctive, working in unison like synchronised clocks. The joy they get from performing on stage is contagious. It was very special to see them perform as a headline act, on the back of their amazingly successful 2020 release ‘Akilotoa – Anthology 1994-2006’.

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The Saturday night Sunset Concert was a sell out, and not surprisingly with Midnight Oil hitting the stage at 9pm for two hours of pure Power & Passion. From the opening note of ‘Read About It’ to their final encore songs ‘One Country’ and ‘Dead Heart’, the Oils held the crowd in the palms of their hands. Peter Garrett strode around the stage in the fashion I remember from my younger years, and sang with the same energy and passion. Rob Hirst on drums and vocals was a star, smashing it out and even using the stage set rainwater tank at a percussion instrument. Peter gave a moving tribute to bassist Bones Hillman who sadly recently passed away from cancer. Peter Garrett in true form pushed the socially conscious issues he supports, encouraging all to support The Uluru Statement, the focus of the band’s latest mini album ‘The Makarrata Project’. But it was the old favourites like ‘Short Memory’ and ‘Beds are Burning’ that really had the crowd up on their feet and dancing. Thank goodness dancing was allowed. What a great way to end Day 2!

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Check out Deb Kloeden’s gallery of
Womadelaide Day 2 : HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB