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Photographs by Marianna Heberly

John Butler AND Trio Back With a Bigger Sound.

Australian/American folk music hero John Butler returned to Cairns with his band for the first time in many years on Saturday night for a good old fashioned party in the park.

The relaxed open air atmosphere of MMP seems like it was built for artists just like Butler, who delivered a perfectly curated party setlist for a receptive and appreciative crowd.

With samples from the new album, Prism, littered amongst what was essentially a ‘best of JBT’ playlist, the musicians gave the crowd exactly what they came for… and plenty to dance to.

 

The recent addition of another percussionist to the group has seen them drop the “trio” moniker, but has added a depth to the live performance, that makes  their past hits feel like new versions. With  two on percussion there is plenty of live improvisation and segue. That, coupled with a strict 10pm curfew left Butler with little time for his usual chats in between songs and political ponderings. Other than promoting an upcoming indigenous music festival, he appeared content to let his music do the talking.

Some of his classic instrumental pieces like “Ocean” are now woven with even more depth, and when performed on an open air stage alongside the barrier reef, it seems to say more than words could anyway. 

Butler has an optimistic quality that has always carried his music and he seemed to enjoy himself as much as the crowd. It takes a special kind of optimism to debut a new track about one’s recently deceased father sandwiched between crowd favourites “zebra” and “funky tonight” during a boisterous encore. 

While his once trademark dreadlocks have now given way to grey hair, Butler and his band of merry musicians seem to have avoided the middle aged earnestness of many of his contemporaries and are revelling in the sheer joy of entertaining. 

John Butler's new album PRISM is out now and you can grab a copy online at johnbutlertrio.com/