Kate Ceberano is one of Australia’s most celebrated artists and has been touring a set which pays homage to some of the greats of Australian music for the last two years. Now, it was time for Ceberano to hit the Harbour City for a special gig at the Opera House to celebrate the wonderful music from this nation. 

We were first treated to a beautiful opening set from Kathleen Halloran, who has been Kate Ceberano’s guitarist for many years but is finally stepping out onto the stage in her own right as a solo artist. It’s fair to say that Halloran stunned the audience and did a truly extraordinary job, captivating the crowd with her incredible guitar skills and beautiful vocals. While she seemed a little nervous at times, she showed considerable skill and absolutely nailed the set, receiving a well deserved ovation after a remarkable guitar solo to close. 

When Ceberano emerged for her set, the crowd erupted. Opening with “Science Fiction”, complete with an electric drum solo, Ceberano moved into “Boys in Town” and “I’ll Make You Happy” to get the night underway. It was an energetic start and the crowd clearly loved every moment, embracing the music and singing along. Ceberano was joined by Halloran on guitar and Dusty Lee, who contributed a range of instruments and vocals throughout the night. Both musicians were excellent, bringing some impressive instrumental work to the performance, while Ceberano’s warmth towards her band was evident throughout. It was lovely to see the genuine connection between the musicians, which added to the atmosphere on stage.

“It feels sacrilegious to be in the Opera House performing these songs,” said Ceberano to the audience. “It’s a punk act.”

One of the highlights of the night actually came when Lee performed John Farnham’s “Burn for You”, with his beautiful voice shining through as he dedicated the song to his mum, making for a particularly touching moment, with Ceberano particularly generous in her stagecraft towards the uber-talented musician. Ceberano was equally impressive vocally, with a richness and fullness to her sound that suited the material. Among her early highlights was a powerful rendition of “The Real Thing”, while “Beds Are Burning” towards the end of the set was another energetic highlight amongst the Australian classics. There was a huge amount of breadth in the set and Ceberano and her band handled it extremely well. 

“In the age of AI, nothing can replicate this experience,” said Ceberano to agreement from the audience. 

There was also time for a bit of musical theatre, with Ceberano performing “Everything’s Alright” from Jesus Christ Superstar, in which she appeared alongside Farnham in the original Australian production. It was a welcome inclusion amongst the rock classics, particularly given the significance of the show in Ceberano’s career and she performed it impeccably well, with a beautiful storytelling tone that the song demands. She also performed some of her own biggest hits including “Pash” and “Bedroom Eyes”, the latter performed with her daughter, Gypsy Rogers, which had a huge amount of passion and presence to them. 

There was a particularly poignant Farnham tinge to the show, with a memorable cover of “Help” towards the end of the set. Given the affection with which Farnham is regarded, it was a moving moment in the set and a lovely way to acknowledge an artist who has played such an important role in Australian music. While it is clear that Farnham is really struggling at the moment, the goodwill in the audience towards the Australian icon was huge and the tribute felt very fitting. 

If there was one slight bugbear, the trio were not done any favours by the Opera House acoustics. The notoriously difficult Concert Hall muffled the sound at times and there were some technical issues on stage, which was a shame given the quality of the musicians. 

“Every part of the show is betraying us on a technical level tonight,” laughed Ceberano at one point. 

Ultimately, this was a fantastic show that demonstrated Ceberano’s musicality and incredible presence in the industry. She moved confidently across a wide variety of genres and styles, supported by a truly excellent band (who deserved yet another shout-out – wow!) and some welcome special guests. There was a real sense of joy throughout the evening, both on stage and in the audience, as Ceberano revisited the music that has shaped her career and contributed to our wonderful music culture in this country. It was a fitting celebration of an artist who continues to command the stage and of the music that has shaped her and when she described the show as “the greatest gig of [her] life”, it was clear that many in the audience felt the same. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Kate Ceberano – Sydney Opera House – 11 October 2026

All photo credits: Sunflower Sessions Photography