Kate Miller-Heidke has been a mainstay on the Australian music scene since she burst onto the scene in the mid-2000s. Yet, in recent years, Miller-Heidke has gained a new following after being selected to represent Australia at Eurovision and joining The Voice Australia as a coach.

Miller-Heidke took to the stage at City Recital Hall for two shows to kick off the venue’s Singular Voices series. The acoustics of the venue perfectly suited Miller-Heidke’s voice, with the singer remarking during the gig at the crystal-clear quality of the sound, which accentuated her fantastic diction. 

“I love this venue,” she said. “It’s got the most amazing sound.”

Miller-Heidke was joined on stage by her husband Keir Nuttall on guitar and the two formed a fantastic pair from the beginning of the show. Both were amusing and engaging, playing off each other for regular banter throughout the 90-minute set. 

What immediately stood out was the level of musicality on show. Miller-Heidke has an ethereal voice, having been classically trained and demonstrated incredible control in her upper register. Her tone was pure throughout the night and her penchant for conveying the meaning of songs was on full display. Both Nuttall and Miller-Heidke were superb on the guitar and piano respectively, with virtuosic solos littered throughout the set. The songs themselves were complex as well, with considered musical layering and incisive lyrics. 

The music on show was varied, with Miller-Heidke playing old favourites alongside unreleased newer material and theatre songs. Early in the set, the pair played a number of songs that were very much focussed on storytelling, with an unreleased song about the impact of the bushfires having particular resonance. 

Miller-Heidke possesses a special ability to convey the intricate details of a story both in her voice and in her songwriting, and this was evident in her performance of “Sarah”, which told the story of a girl who went missing at the 1997 Livid Festival. The performance was gripping, with Miller-Heidke’s voice shining in its higher register as she simultaneously managed the complex piano part in the song. 

There was plenty of time for crowd favourites amongst the more biographical songs, with the singer bringing up an audience member to join her on “Caught in the Crowd.” However, the highlight of the night was when Miller-Heidke brought Elana Stone, who was the support act for the night, onto the stage for a series of duets. First was a performance of “Amazing” which was written by Miller-Heidke and Nuttall for the musical, Muriel’s Wedding. It is a song that Miller-Heidke rarely performs at her shows, but it was perfectly executed on the night and was a welcome balance of the rest of the set. 

Stone and Miller-Heidke then performed “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore” which was a stunning duet as the pair combined brilliantly for an emotional and heart-wrenching performance. Miller-Heidke then performed her two biggest hits to close out the night, with “Zero Gravity” showing off the best of her high notes before she moved onto “The Last Day on Earth” for the encore which was a fitting way to cap off a wonderful show. 

This was a show emblazoned with exquisite musicality and craftsmanship. Miller-Heidke has one of the best voices in the Australian music industry and it was on full show in this concert, ably supported by Nuttall on guitar and the fabulous acoustics around the venue. The pair have set the standard for the Singular Voices series, and it will be exciting what they have in store for the rest of the year. 

Rating: ★★★★★

Kate Miller-Heidke – City Recital Hall – 7^th February 2025

All photo credits: Kim Madgwick