Josiah and the Bonnevilles in Sydney – live review
It was a truly soggy and bleak evening in Sydney on the 20th of August as I lined up outside the Oxford Art Factory to see Josiah and the Bonnevilles, supported by Sam McGovern. The miserable weather did nothing to dampen the anticipation in the air. The crowd was one of the most diverse I’ve ever seen at a live music venue. Young fans discovering Josiah’s catalog stood shoulder to shoulder with much older followers, a clear sign of the wide reach and universal appeal of his music.
Sam McGovern opened the night with a short but heartfelt set, perfectly setting the tone. His warm, earnest delivery acted as the ideal prelude to what was to come. His set may have been brief, but they carried real weight and heart, leaving the crowd primed for the main act.
When Josiah took the stage, he brought with him all the southern charm and sincerity that his fans know and love. There’s an authenticity to him that feels rare in modern live music. His candor, humor, and openness made the intimate room feel more like a gathering of friends than a sold-out show. Between songs, his banter with the audience drew laughter and smiles, deepening the sense of connection.
The setlist was a carefully woven journey through his catalog, from the rawness of his older material to the crowd-pleasing familiarity of his more well-known tracks. At one point, he broke into a cheeky cover of Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero, after recounting how advice to cover popular songs had helped spark his career. The crowd lapped it up, singing along as if it were one of his own.
Looking around the room, it was hard to find a face that wasn’t mouthing every lyric. Whether to the tragic, the tender, or the uplifting songs. The devotion in the room was palpable, and it was clear Josiah felt it too. His gratitude and awe for his fans came through in every glance, every word, every note.
To top it off, Josiah announced that a new album is on the way and played an unreleased song from it, sending a ripple of excitement through the crowd. And with the kind of momentum he’s building, it feels inevitable that a larger tour could be on the cards for next year.
All told, despite the dreary weather outside, the night was electric inside. It was one of those rare evenings where the artist and audience seemed to share something intimate, a reminder of why live music matters so much. If tonight was any indication, the next chapter for Josiah and the Bonnevilles is going to be something special.
Review and photos by Aidan Willis.
