TWELVE months after Cold Chisel had to pull the plug on its North East gig, Jimmy Barnes rocked Wahgunyah like he was making up for lost time.
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Ever-professional, Barnes belted out rock 'n' roll anthems the likes of Driving Wheels, I'd Die To Be With You Tonight, No Second Prize and Working Class Man in Monday's sweltering heat, without missing a beat.
He told the crowd at All Saints Estate for the 2021 Sounds Better Together gig, he had wanted to play there last January.
"I was meant to be here 12 months ago but we couldn't because of the heat and smoke!" he said.
True to his word, Barnes gave Cold Chisel fans some of the pub band's classics in the form of Flame Trees, Khe Sanh and Goodbye.
But Barnes showed his tender side too when he paired up with his wife, Jane, mid-set.
Having found an appreciative audience for the couple's duos filmed live in their NSW Southern Highlands home last year amid the COVID-19 crisis, Barnes reformed the "Jane Barnes Band" at Wahgunyah.
They did a moving version of Love Hurts, a US song made popular by Scottish hard rock band Nazareth in the mid-1970s.
Jane taught herself guitar during the national lockdown; Barnes, himself, picked up the bagpipes.
"I tried to play the bagpipes for about two weeks; enough to really annoy the neighbours," Barnes said.
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Showing herself to be an allrounder, Jane played the bagpipes in Barnes' song Shutting Down Our Town, penned for him by country legend Troy Cassar-Daley.
The track was inspired by the closing down of the Holden factory in Barnes' family hometown of Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide.
Thrilled to be doing his first live gig since February 15, Australian singer Daryl Braithwaite delivered a set of Sherbet classics and solo crowd-pleasers.
He saved his best for last with As The Days Go By and No. 1 hit The Horses getting fans on their feet.
"During the lockdown I thought I'd come out and play this one (As The Days Go By) first, but anyhow I'm putting it in here!" he teased to round out his set.
Melbourne singer-songwriter Deborah Conway teamed up with her husband Willy Zygier to bring the best of their old and new work.
Conway's 1991 tune It's Only The Beginning set the upbeat tone for the show.
Mushrooom Group and Visit Victoria are hosting 2021 Sounds Better Together, a series of COVIDSafe concerts at city and country venues this month. James Reyne, Daryl Braithwaite, Vika and Linda and Mia Wray will perform at the last country gig on Saturday at Mallacoota.
