Live Review: The Waifs, Kasey Chambers, Lior, Stella Donnelly

A stunning Kings Park backdrop was a perfect pairing with a highly anticipated and star-studded bill of tasty tune-droppers. You could feel the vibe in the night sky before a note was even played.

Buzz act of our local music scene and beyond for the past 12 months, Stella Donnelly warmed up the punters with a neat set that proved her rising status. Closing out with Mean To Me, Donnelly's stripped-back electric guitar and vocals approach is damn cool and she was a worthy choice as opener. We can expect plenty more from this singer.

A didgeridoo sound check complete with an Indigenous blessing to all in attendance was a meaningful touch to continue the night's loving vibe. In recent years Lior has focused his artistic efforts on theatre and orchestral projects and, given his last studio album was 2014's Scattered Reflections, it was exciting to hear some strong new tunes as well as old favourites from the Israeli-born singer-songwriter.

While a fair few were still arriving armed with picnic blankets and the obligatory brie and crackers set-up, some Beatlesque licks from axeman Ben Edgar provided an early highlight. Jokingly expressing his joy at playing after the young Donnelly, Lior's vocals shined on This Old Love. A solid showing but fair to say the crowd energy was lacking in the latter part, with many anticipating Kasey Chambers' impending set.

Freshly back from Tamworth's Country Music Festival, musical veteran Kasey Chambers felt at home straight away in front of an adoring West Aussie audience. Some newer tracks dominated the early part of her set, with Not Pretty Enough and Runaway Train well-received especially, in Chambers' words, by "the dreadlocked tough guy" a few rows back.

After acknowledging her father and gun guitarist Bill Chambers to her right, she proceeded to play a few numbers off latest release Dragonfly. The blues and rock vibe soon switched to a bluegrass one as all five members huddled around the mic, with Ali Foster emerging from behind the skins to star on the oft-forgotten washboard. Our footloose dreadlocked lad was told by security to return to his nearby seat, to the many jeers of the gold section punters as The Captain and Barricades & Brickwalls closed a memorable set.

There's little doubt The Waifs are a state treasure. Hailing from Albany, the act is a sonic pearl of the highest order. Groovy and hip shaking, bold yet honest. Cutting straight into Black Dirt Track, the drive of Josh Cunningham's guitar and Vikki Thorn's passionate blues harp playing set the scene for a sweet set to follow.

Lighthouse, Higher Ground and this scribe's mum's favourite Ironbark were all delivered beautifully. Before the wonderful Sun Dirt Water was played, Thorn spoke of her appreciation for the Country Women's Association and all that they do in the community. Who doesn't love tea and scones?

London Still, Fisherman's Daughter and Take It In were met with rapturous applause as the band left the stage. But they were always going to give a little more as an encore complete with some mind-blowing harp summed up a night to savour, as thousands left satisfied by an absorbing Saturday of live music.