This production provides its audience with bountiful musical experiences, with its paired performances providing a great example of what the Adelaide Guitar Festival is all about
Presented by: Adelaide Guitar Festival
Reviewed: 16 July, 2023
A banquet of musical talent begins with in-demand session guitarist and soon to be solo artist Kathleen Halloran, followed by 27-year-old international French gypsy guitarist sensation Antoine Boyer, accompanied by the harmonica from Korean musician Yeore Kim, creating a very enjoyable and diverse experience at this year’s festival.
Kathleen Halloran opens the show with her first ever solo performance (which she graciously thanks the Guitar Festival for the opportunity to do) and as she performs solo with an acoustic guitar, the use of a looper pedal assists her to achieve multiple layers within her performance. Song choices range from classics that everyone knows by artists that have inspired her throughout her life (think the 1979 hit Choir Girl by Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss and an instrumental take on The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps), but with her own sweeping strum flare, as well as some of her own new original music with songs inspired by the ups and downs of being an artist.
Throughout her time on stage she is refreshingly casual and honest, providing plenty of interesting context for her choices of each song, creating a greater level of depth for the audience to embrace. Halloran’s gravitating down-to-earth personality is also reflected within her original song lyrics and approachable vocals, and it will be interesting to watch her solo career develop in the Australian music scene.
Halloran also acknowledges the significant positive impact that mentorship from Australian singing icon Kate Ceberano has had on her career. In honour of this deeply meaningful professional relationship, Halloran even covers Ceberano’s much-loved Aussie tune So Far From Home, with softer and huskier vocals and plenty of guitar action. It would be great to see, or rather hear, a collaboration between the two artists pop up on Halloran’s upcoming debut album!
In his first Australian appearance, French gypsy jazz, or Jazz Manouche, guitarist Antoine Boyer whisks his captivated Adelaide audience away to the bustling, culture-filled streets of Paris as he swings effortlessly between classic Django Reinhardt melodies (the genres original champion), more contemporary jazz tracks, and his very own magical compositions inspired by classical music. There is no doubt that Boyer is one of the best in the world as his fingers effortlessly dance upon his Selmer-Maccaferri gypsy guitar mesmerisingly, like long spiders legs weaving a web of beautiful notes so quickly up and down the strings that they almost become a blur.
Partway through, Boyer is joined onstage by Korean multi-instrumentalist Yeore Kim (now also based in Paris) who has impressively mastered the chromatic harmonica, a popular musical instrument choice in the jazz genre, in a way that is both elegant and powerful.
The harmonica and guitar duo tunes are reminiscent of the soundtracks of beloved films set in Paris, such as Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, and the French romantic classic Amélie, with the songs seemingly capturing the energy of life magically within a single tune thanks to consistent staccato form. The audience also expressed delight at the duos personalised covers of various classic songs, with The Beatles popping up again as the performers created their own jazz interpretation of Blackbird, as well as the slower dramatic Our Spanish Love composed by American jazz musician Charlie Haden.
The pair are a delight to watch on stage together not just because of their talent, but also because of their engaging chemistry, as they seem to share many gleeful looks between them accompanied by many giggles. Their relaxed attitudes are enhanced by their relaxed, but still professional clothing with simple and stylish outfits both grounded with pairs of casual white sneakers – a youthful touch for a beautiful celebration of young musical talent.
This is a show that provided its audience with bountiful musical experiences, with its paired performances providing a great example of what the Adelaide Guitar Festival is all about – showcasing the variety of talented guitarists from around the world as well as the varied musical styles that are just waiting to be discovered by the audience.
Reviewed by Georgina Smerd
Photo credit: Claudio Raschella
Venue: Dunstan Playhouse
Season: ended
Duration: 2 hours (20 minute interval)
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