Review by Markus Hamence & Jeff Smith – Katie Noonan – Grace: The Songs of Jeff Buckley – Performance date: Saturday 20 September 2025. Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, South Australia
With over 25 years in the industry, Katie Noonan has proved herself as one of Australia’s most hardworking, versatile and prolific artists. Named one of the greatest Australian singers of all time by the Herald Sun, Katie has produced 29 albums throughout her career, with seven times platinum record sales under her belt and 29 ARIA award nominations that span diverse genres. In 2023 Katie was awarded ‘Best Live Voice QLD’ in the National Live Music Awards.
Katie first introduced her unique adaptation of Jeff Buckley’s Grace live, recently performing an incredible five sold-out nights at Sydney Festival. Praise from fans and critics came pouring in for the singer-songwriter’s ability to maintain the qualities of the traditional tracks while adding her unique flair and tone to curate a memorable homage to an iconic body of work.
But, here’s my thoughts…
Katie Noonan, our ever-enchanting musical chameleon, brought something truly ethereal to Adelaide this weekend with Grace, her reimagining of Jeff Buckley’s iconic 1994 album. Presented in full at the Hindley Street Music Hall, the show was a serene dive into sonic emotion – part tribute, part transformation and altogether hauntingly beautiful.
“Katie Noonan, our ever-enchanting musical chameleon, brought something truly ethereal to Adelaide this weekend with Grace…” – Markus Hamence
Opening the evening with quiet confidence and poetic charm, Brisbane’s Jack Carty proved himself the ideal support act for Katie Noonan’s Grace. With just his guitar, a warm stage presence, and a set of deeply personal songs, Carty gently guided the audience into the emotional terrain ahead. His storytelling style – intimate, unhurried, and disarmingly honest – created an immediate sense of connection. The songs were understated beauty, full of lyrical warmth and melodic ease, as if we were sitting down in a corner pub with a mate.
Making Carty such a smart pairing with Noonan wasn’t just his musicality, but his emotional tone. He didn’t attempt to upstage or energise – he calibrated. His set was all about stillness and sincerity, laying a soft, thoughtful foundation before the emotional juggernaut that is Grace. The crowd, clearly attuned, responded with quiet appreciation and knowing nods – a room collectively settling into something special. As far as support acts go, Carty didn’t just open; he prepared us, setting the tone – like the hush before a storm.
Let’s get one thing straight: Buckley’s Grace is no easy feat. It’s a cult classic, heavy with emotional weight, staggering vocal demands, and that ghostly, forever-27 energy. AND there’s an expectation. But Noonan, never one to shy away from a challenge, didn’t just step into Buckley’s world – she spun it through her own shimmering prism. From the opening chords of the title track to the final lingering note of Dream Brother, Katie’s voice was no imitation – it was illumination. Her crystalline tone brought new colours to these beloved tracks, finding feminine nuance and raw fragility in unexpected places.
“But Noonan, never one to shy away from a challenge, didn’t just step into Buckley’s world – she spun it through her own shimmering prism…”
– Markus Hamence
Standouts? Oh yes. Lilac Wine was an early emotional sucker punch – stripped back, intimate, and utterly spellbinding. Hallelujah, predictably, brought the crowd to a reverent hush, but Noonan’s delivery avoided cliché and leaned into grace (pun very much intended). The band, tight and atmospheric, served as an elegant backdrop throughout, but when things hit their mark – especially on Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – they were spine-tingling.
Between songs, Katie offered warm reflections on Buckley’s legacy and her personal connection to the music, creating space for audience connection beyond just applause. It was a reminder that this wasn’t just a cover gig – it was a labour of love, a shared act of musical remembrance. We even got a sing-a-long with a random and spontaneous trip with ABBA’s Thank You For The Music (which was very relevant for the moment).
“Between songs, Katie offered warm reflections on Buckley’s legacy and her personal connection to the music, creating space for audience connection beyond just applause…” – Markus Hamence
The venue itself – Hindley Street Music Hall – is always a vibe, it lent a moody, urban edge to the show. Acoustically, it mostly did the job, though this kind of set might’ve flourished even more in a venue with softer acoustics (hello, Thebarton or Her Majesty’s). Still, the crowd was rapt, the vibe electric, and the sense of reverence palpable.
In a cultural moment so often ruled by noise and flash, Grace arrived as a balm – thoughtful, emotive, and exquisitely performed. Katie Noonan gave honour to Buckley’s masterpiece; she made us feel it anew. And in Adelaide, we felt every shimmering second.
Let’s call it what it was: a triumph.
Additional thoughts by reviewer Jeff Smith
Katie Noonan’s Grace Tour is nothing short of a spiritual experience as one of Australia’s finest voices brings Jeff Buckley’s timeless masterpiece album, Grace to life.
Noonan’s interpretation showcases her deep affinity with the album that shaped her musical path. The show is a love letter to the ten songs that Buckley gifted the world before his life was tragically cut short.
“Noonan clearly feels every note and emotion drawing the audience into Buckley’s mystical world…” – Jeff Smith
Noonan clearly feels every note and emotion drawing the audience into Buckley’s mystical world. Performed in entirety and in order with her incredible band, each track is delivered with passion, beauty and ultimately Grace.
The entire 75 minute set is a highlight with the opening Mojo Pin setting the ethereal tone before classics Grace and Last Goodbye arrive to great delight. Hallelujah naturally brings the room to a standstill. It’s a masterful performance that is larger than life.
Noonan’s voice is the star and its diversity and jaw dropping range brings Grace a new lease of life. Much more than a tribute, it’s a joy and privilege to hear the album live in the intimacy of Hindley Street Music Hall.
The Grace Tour is one that music lovers will be talking about for years to come and a chapter that will undoubtedly be a milestone in Noonan’s already impressive legacy.
