John Butler mixed seven songs off his new Home album into a rollicking 17-song two-hour headlining gig at Bimbadgen’s A Day On The Green on Saturday including the opening number, Wade in the Water, and main set closer, We Want More.

Not only does it demonstrate the faith that Butler has in his music, mind you he’s been road-testing the new material on a major tour through Europe and North America, but also the confidence in his fans to keep running with him.

Butler has the uncanny ability to make every song a “big” piece, and thus the new music – Wade in the Water, Tahitian Blue, Faith, Blame It On Me, Just Call, Home and We Want More - fit in like part of the family with hits and favourites including Better Than, Used to Get High and Don’t Wanna See Your Face Again. 

Of course, Pickapart and Ocean (played solo) sat firmly in the middle of the set. For some reason, they don’t feel self-indulgent at all these days.

And the night closed out with Funky Tonight and Zebra, as the front of house audience closed in tight for dancing and an invigorating call and response to bring Zebra to a climax.

Overall, it was an outstanding line-up. Stella Donnelly showed poise beyond her age in a solo opening set. Her vocals soared in her biggest hits Mechanical Bull and Boys Will Be Boys and she also gave the crowd a taste of an upcoming A Day On The Green in a few weeks, with a cover of Kylie Minogue’s I Believe in You.

Dan Sultan was in excellent form, revving up the crowd with Hold it Together and combining with Missy Higgins for The Biggest Disappointment, originally by the late great Slim Dusty.

Higgins reminded everyone just why they love her so much. With baby daughter Luna side of stage with earmuffs on, she told the crowd how she opened for Ed Sheeran while pregnant, meaning she gave birth to a “ready-made” Missy Higgins and Ed Sheeran fan.

She had the crowd singing along with favourites The Special Two, Scar and Steer and also mixed in newer tunes such as Cemetery and Arrows.