THE DREGGS - Tuning Fork, 2nd August 2024: Review

The Dreggs brought warmth in winter to the Tuning Fork on Friday night with their Folky Pop harmonies and uplifting presence.

The duo Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris formed in2017, busking the streets of Australia’s Sunshine Coast.

They describe their sound as being heavily influenced by coastal culture, the perfect road-tripping music.

Joined by fellow Sunshine Coast musician Samuel Ayling playing backup guitar for the band as well as opening the night with his solo project This New Light.

This New Light has a silky Indie Folk sound that already locked in several spots in my playlist.

The Mountains was one of them that Samuel played beautifully to the space filled with eager listeners.

This New Light’s warm storytelling between songs invited the audience into the artists world on a deeper level. It was wondrous to hear about some of the inspiration behind the songs and how real-life experiences often came into the music themselves.

Hinterland was described to be about getting away from the busyness and finding peace, stillness during Sam’s travels in his van. A recording of cars driving past his parked-up abode became part of the track’s sound.

This New Light covered Spacy Jane’s Lots of Nothing which sent the crowd singing. The number was played on a late1950’s acoustic guitar that had been transported from Australia to Aotearoa shores in a soft case.

Thankfully it travelled safely and played beautifully with the artists melodies.

With a warmed-up audience and stage, The Dreggs graced upon the platform and began playing their tunes old and new.

All night long the crowd drifted between trancelike bliss and joy filled dancing.

At moments in the night country styled moves bloomed in spaces of the crowd. People arm in arm jogging around in circles all whilst grinning from ear to ear.

Peeps with the Goods and Berlin are two personal favourites of mine to hear live, with their smooth sounding melodies that arise to feelings of nostalgia and longing whilst being uplifting.

There was something vulnerable and authentic about The Dreggs presence, as they not only played intimate and heartfelt tunes, but also shared the process of writing their recent album Caught in a Reverie.

The album was described to be about experiencing grief. Written by them in one of their bedrooms during a time when they had both experienced a breakup.

The set peaked with their song Young and Free and finishing with Take a Little Time.

Dedicated to the audience, the fans and their ongoing support. To the ones who buy tickets and show up to shows, stream the music, and make it all possible.

It as an absolute pleasure to attend this show and I left feeling humbly uplifted, with a whole new perspective on their art.

I know I’ll eagerly be anticipating new music and shows when they come. For both The Dreggs and This New Light.