On a cool May evening, The Manning Bar pulsed with anticipation. A diverse crowd – part soul disciples, part nostalgic romantics, part curious newcomers – spilled into the venue early, drinks in hand, trading stories about “the last time Roachford played Australia.” Twenty-one years, give or take. You could feel the weight of that wait in the air. One punter near the front summed it up before the first note rang out: “Mate, it’s been too long. This is going to be something special.”

Opening the night with a disarming blend of sincerity and dry humour, Jack Bratt turned what could have been a polite warm-up into a genuine connection. Recently relocated from Brisbane, Bratt shared his navigational misadventures with Sydney’s tollways, quipping that buying seven copies of his LP Slow Release might help him recoup. His set featured a rich tapestry of sounds, utilizing a pedal board with various effects and a looper, delivering heartfelt originals like ‘Spades’, ‘Will You Ever’, and ‘London’. A standout moment was his rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’, which captivated the audience. He also gave a nod to his sound engineer, affectionately named ‘Beers', for keeping him on track over the years. By the time he stepped off stage, the room was primed and pulsing.

Then came that voice.

Introduced by a throwback Top of the Pops clip, Roachford strolled on stage sharp in a white suit, looking like he’d just stepped out of a smoky Soho jazz bar. The moment he opened with ‘The Doctor’, that smooth, soulful tone filled the room — rich as a Barossa red. “That’s your lot,” he joked after the opener, feigning a walk-off to a wave of laughter.

From there, it was a masterclass in connection. During ‘The Way I Feel’, the audience echoed his every line in full voice. “It’s been 21 years,” Roachford said later, “but it’s so worth the journey.” You believed him. His version of ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ leaned jazz-funk, and he cheekily likened it to a rock eisteddfod. ‘Ride the Storm’ brought one of many crowd surges, especially when he rewrote the opening lyric to, “Hey my Sydney, don’t you look so sad.” Goosebumps.

The band? Tight as ever. Backing harmonies all round, and a drummer – Jackie James Barnes – who delivered pitch-perfect falsetto during ‘Carry You’. The layering intro to ‘Lay Your Love on Me’ had the crowd in full roar before a single lyric was sung.

“Are you having fun out there?” Roachford asked. The roar in response said it all.

From the sublime to the unforgettable

During the encore, things shifted from sublime to unforgettable. Acoustic warmth flowed through ‘Cry for Me’, then came some solo piano under soft, golden lights. A heartfelt ‘Looking Back (Over My Shoulder)’ followed, with Roachford quietly noting he’s currently recording with Mike + The Mechanics.

Then, with a grin, he turned to Jackie on drums: “Hey, Jackie — d’you think your dad might join us for a couple of numbers?”

Enter Jimmy Barnes.

From the wings — where he’d been watching his son and an old friend tear it up — Jimmy strode on to pandemonium. The place erupted. ‘I Put a Spell on You’ brought grit and gravitas, followed by ‘Attention’ from their 2005 Double Happiness collab.

Barnes exited to a hero’s ovation… and then Roachford delivered one more surprise. Out walked KT Tunstall.

Having previously shared the stage at the Isle of Wight Festival, she and Roachford brought it home with a stomping, soulful ‘Cuddly Toy (Feel for Me Baby)’ that turned the Manning into a soul revue with a side of rock ’n’ roll.

A Thank You That Hit Home

Roachford closed with ‘Only to Be With You’ and a heartfelt jam — name-checking each bandmate, sound tech, and light operator, before turning to the crowd: “I see you. I see all your smiling faces. And I feel you. Thank you for giving me this energy.”

As the lights came up, The Manning Bar stayed buzzing. That final wave of gratitude lingered in the air, and the energy — soulful, joyful, unshakable — spilled out onto the moonlit university lawns. Conversations sparked in pockets across the campus, people clutching setlists or snapping selfies under the glow of the old sandstone archways.

One older punter turned to a group nearby and said, “That’s what they should teach students here — how to hold a room with just your voice and soul.”

Another just shook his head and said, “That band… so tight. And that voice? Ageless. Like the man’s made of melody.”

It wasn’t just a gig. It was a masterclass — in music, in connection, in how to turn a night into a memory that’ll echo for years.

Full credit to Metropolis Touring for making a night like this happen — and for reminding us just how powerful live music can still be.

Full gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/Roachford%20-%20Then%20And%20Now%20Greatest%20Hits%20Tour

Thank you to Roachford, Jack Bratt, Metropolis Touring, John Howarth and the Manning Bar for having us along.

Review and Photos by Andy Kershaw for Music Kingdom Australia