Live Review: First Aid Kit, Luluc

Homegrown indie-folk duo Luluc create a calming effect that washes over the audience. Their relaxing slow-burner melodies and delicate arrangements take us on a journey with charming storytelling and gentle cooing vocals.

Just like two lionesses emerging from the shadows, First Aid Kit command our attention as we stop and listen to The Lion’s Roar. With strong prowess, Johanna and Klara Söderberg embody the animal spirit with their long flowing manes and instinctive fearless sound.

"It's Friday night!,” yells the Swedish sister duo, as they uncontrollably begin to sing the infamous Rebecca Black song to celebrate - “It’s a classic,” they joke. “We have a range of party anthems for a Friday night”, she continues, as they play a song called Blue, about a depressed middle-aged woman who hates her life.

Their songs may be sad but the sweet folk-pop darlings warm our hearts with their honest folk tales and soothing ‘70’s-tinged country rock. Their soaring vocals and perfectly matched harmonies shine as bright as the gold sequined detail on their outfits.

Gold is a strong theme of their tour as part of their perfectly fitting spot on the Golden Plains line up, and also the name of their latest album Stay Gold. Inspired by the poem Nothing Gold Can Stay, by Robert Frost, their title track conveys strong emotions and insightful lyrics that bring a smile to our faces.

Taking a moment to collect herself, the eccentric Johanna Söderberg explains she’s having a panic attack after noticing her golden cape falling off. She kicks off her shoes and immediately attempts to compose, while the band improvises with some perfectly timed background lounge music.

Bathed in golden rays of light and beneath a shimmering backdrop, the duo continues with Waitress Song about wanting to run away and start again as someone new. Their unfaltering falsettos echo throughout the Palais Theatre as they evoke mixed emotions rich with depth and meaning.

Showcasing their incredible natural talent, a song called Ghost Town is stripped back and delivered without microphones, carried only by an acoustic guitar and the beautiful sound of their harmonious voices. Not a pin drop can be heard as we sit completely still and mesmerised by the delightfully nostalgic tune.

As they begin introducing their recent triple j Like A Version cover, Klara calls out their choice almost resulted in Chandelier by Sia. After some audience encouragement and persuasion from her sister, Klara nervously belts out a verse of the chorus from the epic ballad, impressively reaching the incredibly high octaves. The theatre erupts with applause before they continue with the original planned cover of Jack White’s Love Interruption.

An encore of the captivating Emmylou is a magical way to end the night with a sweet tribute to some of the all-time country greats of inspiring musical duets just like them.