Ben Lee and Georgia Maq may not seem like an obvious pairing for a concert. Lee has been a mainstay of the Australian music industry for more than two decades, while Maq rose to prominence as the frontwoman of indie rock band Camp Cope before embarking on a solo career. Yet it is indeed the pairing of choice that have come together for a national tour and actually proved to be a very effective combination. 

Arriving at the City Recital Hall, the pair told the audience that they only had three demands of the promoter: that the show starts at 7pm, that there is an interval between their sets and that there are macadamia nuts backstage. With all of those satisfied, Lee and Maq alternated between their own material, occasionally joining each other for harmonies and providing plenty of context around their songs.

There was a healthy mixture of old and new throughout the evening, allowing both artists to revisit familiar material while introducing the audience to some of their newer work. While Lee first came to prominence with “Catch My Disease”, there is considerably more to his catalogue than his biggest hit, with his songwriting being clever and insightful. The pair opened with Lee’s “Love Me Like the World Is Ending”, before moving into “Land of Criminals” and “Arsehole”. The first two showcased Lee’s knack for lyrical songwriting, while the latter demonstrated his ability to pair that intelligence with a healthy dose of cheekiness.

Maq’s songwriting was equally impressive. “The LA River” and “Cheap Sedan” revealed a much more reflective side to her writing, with a complexity and depth that sat comfortably alongside Lee’s material and while some of Maq’s songwriting can be cutting, her voice is remarkably beautiful, with a rich tone and a genuine storytelling quality to her delivery, particularly in her higher register, while Lee’s harmonies complemented her beautifully on her songs.

The first set felt particularly well considered, with almost every song earning its place and the audience responding enthusiastically. The second set was somewhat more esoteric, although there were still plenty of highlights. Naturally, “Catch My Disease” was one of them, with Lee’s vocals filling the venue, while Maq’s harmonies added another dimension to the song. Maq’s “Savannah”, however, was arguably the standout of the second half with its evocative songwriting providing a particularly beautiful moment.

The banter between the pair was another highlight. There was plenty of giggling from both throughout the evening and the sense of spontaneity helped create an atmosphere that felt relaxed rather than overly rehearsed, which was a huge plus. City Recital Hall also proved to be an excellent home for the show with the superb acoustics allowing the audience to focus on the songwriting and the vocals which was what this pair needed. 

Ultimately, this was a great concert and a fantastic showcase of two accomplished Australian songwriters. With everything from major hits to deeper cuts and newer material, Lee and Maq demonstrated just how strong their individual catalogues are while their harmonies and banter made for a very fun night. A thoroughly enjoyable night at City Recital Hall.

Rating: ★★★★

Ben Lee and Georgia Maq – City Recital Hall – 25 September 2026