Her voice ageless and song writing compelling, Sarah Blasko’s performance was a magical experience. Woven into five parts Blasko took you through her latest EP in full, tracks from her recent album, her most famous hits, right through to never before played songs.
Billed as a “intimate random on off gig for the diehard fans” the performance was part of the Statewide Great Southern Nights festival, and played at the new to the Century Venues fold, the Darling Quarter Theatre. Intimate it was. Random it was not. It was exactly the kind of polished performance you would expect from an artist whose career spans over 20 years, seven albums, three ARIA’s and countless more nominations, and who despite all her humility remains one of Australia’s most outstanding and revered musicians.
Part one saw Blasko sing the five outstanding songs off her latest EP Forgotten World. Given these songs didn’t make it onto the last album I Just Need to Conquer This Mountain only because they didn’t fit with the theme Blasko was hoping for, is enough to indicate the quality of the tracks. The highlight was ‘Overboard’, and following it, breaking the stillness a member of the audience yelled what all were thinking “Sarah that song is brilliant”.
Across the first two parts, I was left wondering how amazing it would be hear Blasko perform in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Amazing as the intimacy and acoustics were at Darling Quarter Theatre, there would be something special about seeing one of Australia’s greatest live voices in such an iconic venue with its now upgraded acoustics and supported by a full orchestra.
The bigger hits came out in part four, with ‘All I Want’ and ‘We Won’t Run’ and despite nearing 20 years since their release you could see the fun Blasko had in their performance.
The most surprising part of the gig was playing of a completely new song as part of her two-song encore. I got completely lost in this new track; it was delivered so loudly and powerfully that I seemed to me it meant something to Blasko, maybe just the excitement of performing for the first time, or maybe something more? I look forward to hearing it again.
Blasko is about to head off on a 12-show tour of Europe and the UK, with her long-time bandmate, David Hunt, tour dates and location below.
Opening act, Maia Toakley, another singer song writer who very much reminded me of Angie McMahon with some touches of Courtney Barnett, performing a solo set on the guitar and keys.
Toakley’s voice was very commanding, and when she is singing you know she is feeling everything she is singing about, and in that it takes you somewhere. That was really the power of her songs, in the delivery of the lyrics you feel the sense of emotion, indeed the exploration of love, and in the case of a former ex-boyfriend understand some of the dynamic.
Sarah Blasko Europe / UK Tour Dates
May 12, 2026
RUST – Copenhagen, Denmark
May 14, 2026
Mikropol – Berlin, Germany
May 16, 2026
Rock Lobster – Antwerp, Flanders
May 18, 2026
Merleyn – Nijmegen, GE
May 19, 2026
Paradijskerk – Rotterdam, Netherlands
May 20, 2026
Temperance – Royal Leamington Spa, UK
May 21, 2026
Footsteps Festival – (St Matthias Church) London, UK
May 23, 2026
L’Archipel – Paris, France
May 26, 2026
Das WERK – Vienna, Vienna
May 28, 2026
KIFF – Aarau, Aargau
May 30, 2026 – May 31, 2026
The Terug naar het begin Festival – Groningen, Netherlands
Sarah Blasko Europe / UK Tour Dates
May 12, 2026
RUST – Copenhagen, Denmark
May 14, 2026
Mikropol – Berlin, Germany
May 16, 2026
Rock Lobster – Antwerp, Flanders
May 18, 2026
Merleyn – Nijmegen, GE
May 19, 2026
Paradijskerk – Rotterdam, Netherlands
May 20, 2026
Temperance – Royal Leamington Spa, UK
May 21, 2026
Footsteps Festival – (St Matthias Church) London, UK
May 23, 2026
L’Archipel – Paris, France
May 26, 2026
Das WERK – Vienna, Vienna
May 28, 2026
KIFF – Aarau, Aargau
May 30, 2026 – May 31, 2026
The Terug naar het begin Festival – Groningen, Netherlands
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Follow Maia Toakley on instagram | facebook | spotify | youtube | bandcamp | tiktok