IRISH folk troubadour Luka Bloom must have made a peculiar sight on Thursday afternoon, sitting under a tree in Lambton Park taking in the Newcastle suburban surrounds of people playing football or walking their dogs.
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It doesn't sound like your typical pre-gig ritual from a globally successful recording artist. But the self-confessed "tree hugger" isn't your typical artist.
"Isn't it great to travel 15,000 miles and be able to look forward to sitting under a tree?" Bloom asked his audience after opening with Head and Heart.
The love Bloom felt for the humble Lambton Park, situated across the road from Lizotte's, was returned with overwhelming interest from his sold-out audience on Thursday night.
It's not hard to recognise why Bloom attracts such fervent regard. The 63-year-old is a brilliant entertainer; engaging, funny and warm in that most-Irish of ways.
Armed with just an acoustic guitar and his crooning voice, Bloom carried an attentive Lizotte's audience through an almost two-hour non-stop set that bounced around his entire career from his celebrated 1990 record Riverside through to 2017's Refuge, plus a few intriguing covers.
As there was no predetermined setlist, the show had a true flying-on-the seat-of-your-pants feel. You could almost see Bloom's brain clicking over between songs as he plucked out the next track to perform.
READ MORE: Review of J Mascis' Lizotte's show
It also led to a thrilling rendition of one of Bloom's most propulsive songs, The Acoustic Motorbike, following a shouted request from a gentleman upstairs.
The covers ranged from his popular favourites Make You Feel My Love and I Need Love by Bob Dylan and LL Cool J to his humorous version of Coolio's '90s hip-hop classic Gangsta's Paradise.
Bloom explained he only learnt the song late last year after watching his daughter-in-law attempt it at karaoke.
Always searching for new challenges, he rapped his way through the dark tale of "homies" and "hoods" in his Irish brogue. It provided the evening's most humorous moment as he almost hyperventilated trying to spit out the frenetic lyrics.
Bloom's theatrical voice has long been celebrated, but his guitar playing is often underestimated. At Lizotte's he showed himself to be a brilliant guitarist, especially through the intricate finger-picking of his new Refuge material.
There was talk leading into this tour, Bloom's 13th to Australia since 1992, that it could well be his last.
While that would certainly sadden his Newcastle fan base, those at Lizotte's on Thursday can rest assured that Bloom farewelled them with a lasting performance.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
