Festival: A Day On The Green
Artists: Crowded House / Boy and Bear / The Waifs / Maistrato
Venue: Sirromet Winery
Date: Saturday November 5th 2022
Reviewer: Hayley Treadwell
Photographer: Andrew Treadwell Photography

It was one of those QLD afternoons where you know it could rain on you at any moment, but you kind of don’t care. It was beautiful and Sunny with a cool breeze and grey clouds in patches overhead. It really was a beautiful day. 

I do want to say that I love Sirromet Wines as a venue, but they could do with some upgraded parking or at least, even walkways for the trek from the carpark to the entrance. Otherwise Sirromet is the perfect venue. They have amazing set up facilities, all the people working are polite, friendly and helpful and they give you legroom in the seating areas!! The food and drink queues were not too bad and the pizza was delicious! 

The crowd had this incredibly warming vibe, everybody was having a good time and enjoying being able to do this again! I see a bit of a change in people and how we appreciate things as we continue to come out of the Covid bubble, and yesterday was a great showing of this. I learned how to do the 2 and 4 step from a beautiful lady, had amazing conversations while waiting in lines and sang and danced the afternoon and night away. 

We arrived as Maistrato was taking the stage and their music was perfect to walk into! It really set the mood for the day, the 4 piece Grecian acoustic band was amazing. These guys formed a bond with the members of Crowded House when they befriended them one night in a small fishing town in Northern Greece and played music together til morning, Maistrato’s musical talents were a real treat for us yesterday. 

Next up was one of my favourite Australian groups, The Waifs. Sisters Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn along with Josh Cunningham have had a long standing career in the Australian Music industry with many Aria Awards to their name! The Waifs played hits spanning their 25 year career, including London Still, Highway One, Fisherman’s Daughter, Higher Ground, Lighthouse and more! Vikki on the harmonica is amazing to see live and Donna talking to us about breaking a heel of her new boots on stage I think just made us all fall in love with her even more! The Waifs are full of enthusiasm and fun and we had the best time with them! 

Multi Aria award winning band Boy and Bear were up next and delivered an amazing set. Including their hit songs Limit of Love, Feeding Line, Harlequin Dream, an extremely well executed cover of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game and closed out their set with Milk & Sticks and Southern Sun. As a late replacement to The Teskey Brothers, I think Boy and Bear fit perfectly in this line up and delivered an incredible set. 

We were definitely ready for one of Australia’s most loved bands to take the stage next. Crowded House have a longstanding decorated career for a very good reason, they are simply outstanding.

We are very fortunate to attend quite a few live shows and as we left last night my husband said to me, ‘that was right up there with Queen and Elton John’, and I do not disagree. 

Crowded House took the stage with an enormous presence and were adoringly welcomed by the crowd, cheering and singing along instantly with every song. Distant Sun was up first, followed by It’s Only Natural and World Where You Live. We heard Don’t Stop Now, Fall At Your Feet, Pineapple Head and were treated to the lead vocals of Liam Finn on Goodnight Everyone. 

Maistrato joined the band on stage for Private Universe and Four Season In One Day, and the crowd erupted when the band covered Split Enz ‘I Got You’. 

Don’t Dream It’s Over, Mean to Me and Something So Strong closed out the main set. But it wasn’t too long until Neil returned to the stage solo on piano and gave us another Split Enz song with ‘Message To My Girl’, it was beautiful. 

The 5 song encore gave us Chocolate Cake, a cover of David Bowie’s Heroes, Weather With You and lastly, Better Be Home Soon. 

Crowded House are better than ever and the crowd at Sirromet Wines left utterly satisfied and smiling from ear to ear. Crowded House brought an amazing happy and loving energy that radiated through the whole venue. It is no wonder there was such high demand for a second show here. Crowded House and A Day on the Green is a match made in heaven. 

Thanks so much for having us along! 

Until the next gig 

Hayley 

Crowded House Setlist 

Distant Sun 
It’s Only Natural 
World Where You Live 
To The Island 
Don’t Stop Now 
Fall At Your Feet 
Pineapple Head 
Show Me The Way 
Goodnight Everyone 
When You Come 
Private Universe 
Four Seasons In One Day 
Sister Madly 
Locked Out 
I Got You (Split Enz cover) 
Don’t Dream It’s Over 
Mean To Me 
Something So Strong 

Encore

Message To My Girl (Split Enz cover, Neil solo on piano)
Chocolate Cake 
Heroes (David Bowie cover) 
Weather With You 
Better Be Home Soon