Live Review: A Weekend In The Gardens: John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite, Ross Wilson

We arrive at a marquee entrance. Tickets are being collected as we hear Ross Wilson's bluesy guitar sounds rolling down the hill and that distinct guitar lick that make us all think we are missing his biggest hit. Fortunately, he is just getting started. Now with beers in hand we stroll around an area of people sitting on camp chairs and picnic rugs soaking up the chilled atmosphere. Locating our seats among the rows of white chairs, we settle in for some laid-back, foot-tapping grooves. Wilson and his five-piece band play a cover of Back Door Man. Wilson asks his band for "some clapping music" and the crowd joins in as he segues into Mondo Rock's Come Said The Boy, the vibe through the crowd lifts and his guitarist contributes a ripping solo. "I can tell you like to boogie," says Wilson as they launch into everyone's favourite, Daddy Cool's Eagle Rock. Punters are now off their seats, dancing and singing along. Wilson receives big cheers.

To the side of stage and in between acts, DJ Rich Spanning Time spins 7" vinyl from artists such as Bowie, Stevie Wonder and Hall & Oates.

Daryl Braithwaite rocks the stage with his edgy six-piece band and wows us with his soaring vocals. "No Horses tonight," he teases, "because people don't like it." In between most songs he has the crowd laughing, stirring us with jokes about his massive hit. He plays Beautiful Feeling — a song released in 2010 — and receives a great response. Braithwaite's vocal delivery on Not Too Late is impressive and his guitarist rips into a harmonica solo. As The Days Go By gets us cheering, singing and clapping along. He teases us one more time by pretending to finish his set here, before unleashing The Horses. Everyone is up and we take a whole chorus without Braithwaite's assistance.

We applaud as he walks off stage and the DJ Rich Spanning Time starts to spin some more tunes. The sun falls as many gather in the eatery, munching down delicious pulled pork burgers and woodfired pizzas. We bop to the DJ's tunes, as one random passing punter yells, "Yes, swing those hips! Get them ready for Farnesy!" The excitement in the air is building.

Back at our seats, a loud crack goes off and we are treated with a clear view of the Moomba fireworks display. A spectacular mood has been set for a spectacular performer. We cheer — and some scream — as John Farnham graces the stage with his band in tow. He kicks things off with a cover of Queen's We Will Rock You and everyone is standing and dancing. Royal Botanic Gardens are packed with adoring fans as Farnham brings all the hits: Reasons, Heart's On Fire, Two Strong Hearts, Pressure Down and That's Freedom. The audience laps it up. His lead guitarist swaps the electric for an acoustic as the rest of the band step off stage and Farnham stands centre-stage holding the mic. We all take a break from dancing and sit down to absorb, in awe, Farnham's mellow performance of Burn For You, which he tells us he wrote to "suck up to his wife" in the '80s after he left to go on tour, leaving her to care for their young sons.

The full band rejoins him on stage and he rips out A Touch Of Paradise, hitting all the high notes. After a punter's request, he even drops a quick version of Sadie (The Cleaning Lady). Farnham works every spot of the stage and throws in a few mic stand tricks. We hear the first beat to You're The Voice and the crowd becomes ecstatic. Two bagpipe players come out on either side of stage and we sing every lyric back at Farnham. He finishes the set with a cover of AC/DC's It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock'N'Roll).

There is a cheery vibe throughout Royal Botanic Gardens with some of the greatest long-standing performers in the country delivering classic hits and silly jokes.