Photos by Rachel Tinney Words by Ryan Nebauer

The audience Kate Martin opens for tonight is fairly small, but as she strums her first note it’s pretty clear she can grab their attention with interest. She begins with a duet version of Shaking In The Wings to show straight away the heart of most of her songs is a simplistic, but well structured, foundation. The rest of her Townsville band mates then join the stage to play an engaging set which encourages some rather odd dance moves from the growing crowd of turtlenecked hipsters.

After hearing much hype surrounding Founds it doesn’t take long to appreciate what everyone seems to be raving about. The Sunshine Coast six-piece play that pretty type of ambient rock that makes you want to run down a grassy hill into the ocean. Although at first they seem to be a little too influenced by Sigur Ros, the way they feature each of their six instruments in different songs sets them apart from the ‘Sigur Ros fan band’ pack.

Walking onto the stage after a lively set from the band before him, Timothy Carroll and his five-piece band demonstrate straight away they aren’t on the bill to create the same atmosphere. He paces through his set performing slow and melancholic acoustic tunes that at times are taken over by the sound of people talking, possibly about things that don’t force out a yawn. That aside, his bearded mouth wallows some beautiful, heartbreaking tunes reminiscent of Bon Iver and it seems there is a bright future for Carrol in this market.

Montpelier finally takes the stage in an attempt to show everyone why they are headlining above a bunch other of gifted Queensland acts. Front man Greg Chiapello presents a talent that is reminisicent of the great front men of the nineties in the sense that is there simply appears to be no bullshit to him and his stage presence. He writes great pop songs that get the masses singing, especially on Last Boat, and he doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not to sell the band. They flow rather flawlessly through songs off their first EP and showcase fresh ideas they’ve been slaving over, including new single China Shop. Often switching instruments in no rush, the four boys take a few chances to glisten under the beautiful lighting they have strung up on the roof of the Zoo. Closing the night on Take a Picture, a happy song that sounds dangerously close to the The Lion King’s The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Montpelier sound like a band your dad would tell you was awesome back in the day but are still entirely relevant today.