2024 might be the year of The Dreggs. Seven years since releasing their debut single, they dropped their incredible first album Caught in a Reverie. It’s one of my favourites this year. They’ve also just played their first show at the Enmore Theatre, a bucket list venue for the duo from Yarun/Bribie Island. I was so thrilled to be there to share this milestone with the band.
While Friday was The Dreggs’ night, it was really a celebration of local talent. I was unfamiliar with This New Light from Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast, but he made such a big impression on me. It’s challenging for an emerging artist to fill a theatre with only an acoustic guitar for the majority of the set, but he had me hanging on his every word. His chilled-out folk music was the perfect primer for the evening. He was so sweet too, genuinely humble as he told us how much he’d appreciate us checking out his tunes on Spotify or giving him a follow on Instagram. How could we say no?
I’ve been raving about GRAACE’s music since 2018 (about as long as The Dreggs!), so I was thrilled to finally catch her on stage. Her pop tunes weren’t a natural fit for a night like this, but she owned the stage. I loved watching her dance around as she delivered some of my favourite songs like “Jealous Type” and “Love is Getting Wasted.” Rather than a full band, GRAACE shared the stage with an incredible guitarist. Again, it wasn’t the most natural choice for an alt-pop artist, but I loved seeing her shred. They both got their rock star moment when GRRACE slipped in an unexpected cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” that had everyone singing along.
You could feel the energy shift when Then Dreggs’ stepped out. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such an enthusiastic reception for a local act. Sure, I’ve seen people excited when big names like John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes step out, but those guys are so big that their audience becomes a little diluted by people who’ve simply enjoyed the songs on the radio. When you see an act like The Dreggs, everyone there is incredibly passionate. It’s a beautiful thing to be part of. New songs? Already across them. Old favourites? Everyone was following the band then too so we’re all prepared to sing along to every word.
I knew The Dreggs would sound good, but I don’t think I was quite prepared for exactly how good. The music I loved on their recordings went to the next level on the stage. Paddy Macrae’s banjo was incredible, and the full band brought a new depth to some of those early tracks. These guys are tight. There’s a natural chemistry between Paddy and Zane Harris forged from years of friendship. Their harmonies are second to none. But the whole band gelled together so fabulously. It was a joy to watch the music they created.
They may have a few more rungs on the board than their first support act The New Light, but The Dreggs have a similar humility. They remarked several times that playing the Enmore was something they’ve strived for throughout their career. You could see they didn’t take that moment for granted. They thanked the crowd for their support earnestly and even gifted a fan singing every lyric a merch pack. That pack could have gone to so many people, because every song was a singalong. So many numbers had fans up on their feet, dancing enthusiastically, whether they were on the floor or up in the dress circle. That’s right, even among the seats where people normally want to chill, the show was often a party.
Those party vibes were balanced with sombre moments when Paddy spoke about the duo’s commitment to discussing mental health issues. They’ve explored these issues throughout their time as a band, but perhaps never as eloquently as on the album Caught in a Reverie, a record anchored in grief and what it takes to work through it. It was so powerful seeing these guys using this platform to speak about a topic few men willingly discuss. Hats off to them. Those dark moments were balanced so beautifully with lighter tracks like “She Picks Flowers,” “Keepsake,” and the triumphant final number “Hold Me Closer,” which had us all singing along with its “da da” refrain.
The Dreggs will soon take their show to Aotearoa/New Zealand before closing out the year with a few local dates. Catch them anywhere you can. I promise you’ll have a ball.
19 July 2024 – Hotel Brunswick, durring/Brunswick Heads
26 July 2024 – The Church, Christchurch
27 July 2024 – U Bar, Dunedin
28 July 2024 – Yonder, Queenstown
1 August 2024 – San Fran, Wellington
2 August 2024 – The Tuning Fork, Auckland
7 August 2024 – The Station, Ngarigo Country/Jindabyne
6 October 2024 – Long Jetty Festival, Darkinjung Country/Long Jetty
Photo credit: own photos