Nancy Bates – Voice, Purpose & Heart

Barkindji songwoman Nancy Bates opened the night with a presence that instantly commanded attention. Backed by a band, every note of their playing served her songs with precision and soul. Nancy’s set drew from her new album Share Your Love and carried the unmistakable legacy of her time touring with the late Archie Roach. Her music was rich with truth-telling and a call to community, each lyric urging us to care for one another and the land we share.

Midway through her performance Nancy spoke about her work with Five to Free Her, a Sisters Inside campaign supporting Aboriginal women and girls in prison. She encouraged the audience to help, explaining that even small donations assist women with legal support, housing, and reuniting families. The crowd listened closely, clearly moved by the depth of her commitment.

Troy Cassar-Daley – Simplicity with Power

When proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist Troy Cassar-Daley took the stage, the theatre erupted in cheers. Working with only a three-piece band, he proved that restraint can be its own kind of power. His decades of experience, his 45 Golden Guitars and multiple ARIAs, and his instinctive storytelling all came through in every strum and lyric.

Troy’s set was a journey through his life and through Australian country music. He gave a warm nod to Slim Dusty, recalling the night Slim played the very same stage. Songs like They Don’t Make ’Em Like That Anymore, Shadows on the Hill, and Back on Country landed with a mix of nostalgia, history and hope. Before Shadows on the Hill he spoke softly about the massacre that inspired it, honouring the old people and confronting painful truths.

Community and Raw Emotion

The theatre felt less like a concert hall and more like a gathering of family. Strangers exchanged smiles and foot taps; some wiped away tears during the quieter songs. Nancy’s message of love and action blended seamlessly with Troy’s reflections on history and unity. The sound was intimate and unfiltered, every breath and every slide of a guitar string audible in the room, making the music feel alive in a way only a space like this can deliver.

Final Bits

Nancy Bates and Troy Cassar-Daley delivered more than a show, they offered an evening of connection, healing and shared humanity. Their voices were powerful and true, their stories deeply felt, and their purpose unmistakable. It was a reminder that music can do more than entertain; it can bind us together, awaken empathy and inspire action.

Five stars hardly seem enough for a night like this. ★★★★★