It's been eight years since PJ Harvey last graced Australian stages, and her return was nothing short of transcendental.
Currently touring after the release of 2023's 'I Inside The Old Year Dying', her tenth album, Harvey delivered a performance at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre's Plenary Theatre that blurred the line between concert and theatre.As the audience waited for Harvey and her band to take to the stage, the first obvious detail was the thoughtful set design. Rustic furniture was positioned onstage, with a keyboard sitting atop a wooden table rather than a traditional stand.
Glassware sat on a small wooden dining table, catching the light. It felt homely, evoking comfort and domesticity – an unusual setting for a musical performance, yet one that made perfect sense in the context of the night.
Image © Mark Ireland
The first part of the set was a full play-through of the Grammy-nominated 'I Inside The Old Year Dying', a work steeped in folklore with lyrics drawn from 'Orlam', Harvey's novel-in-verse written in the dialect of her native Dorset.
Harvey walked onstage wearing a flowing white cape adorned with spidery trees, her presence immediately captivating. Her four-piece band – John Parish, James Johnston, Jean-Marc Butty and Giovanni Ferrario – were dressed in draping soft-coloured linen, their attire understated but in harmony with the show's carefully curated aesthetic.
From the very first moments, it became clear that every element, from the placement of chairs and mic stands to the lighting shifts, was deliberate.
Harvey and her band's movements were precise and carefully blocked, with every shift in position, every instrument handoff executed with ease. At times, a stagehand would pass Harvey a guitar, while the band members moved from seated to standing, trading keyboard for electric guitar, synth for violin.
Image © Mark Ireland
The set ebbed and flowed between dreamlike, pastoral soundscapes and stirring melodies, with transitions between songs featuring field recordings of birdsong, children in a schoolyard, cows in a field.
The effect was surreal, transporting the audience into an otherworldly narrative space. It was all tied together by Harvey's phenomenal, versatile voice – sometimes hypnotic, other times urgent, always resonant and powerful.
Despite the immersive nature of the performance, there were moments of disruption – hecklers calling out "we love you, Polly!" – to which Harvey gave no response. She remained in another world, locked into the moment, letting the performance speak for itself.
The album play-through ended with the urgent, almost sinister atmosphere of 'A Noiseless Noise'. As its final notes faded, Harvey walked offstage while her four band members stepped forward to stand in a line and perform 'The Colour Of The Earth', a folk ballad lamenting the losses of ANZAC soldiers in Gallipoli. Their harmonised voices, accompanied by a single drum, acoustic guitar, bass and choreographed claps, created an atmosphere of eerie reverence.
When Harvey returned, the cape had been removed to reveal a long, sleeveless white dress, marking the end of the album play-through. She launched into 'The Glorious Land', shifting the set's tone from the mystical to the confrontational.
Image © Mark Ireland
The final section of the night was ushered in by Parish, who picked up an electric guitar, audibly tuned the bottom string down and launched into '50ft Queenie'. It was a flawless transition, a perfect moment of release as the audience broke their stillness.
From there, Harvey moved into a looser, more informal stretch, delivering fan favourites like 'Down By The Water', 'Man-Size' and 'Dress'. The shift from the enigmatic, mythical world of 'I Inside The Old Year Dying' to her earlier, heavier classics was seamless – evidence of her ability to traverse genres and moods effortlessly. Harvey's first acknowledgement of the audience came in this final section of the evening, where she humbly thanked fans for their ongoing support throughout her career.
The encore saw a rousing version of 'C'mon Billy', Harvey with tambourine in hand, before concluding the evening with a haunting rendition of 'White Chalk', bringing the performance full circle in a fitting tribute to Dorset.
The night was an incredible testament to PJ Harvey's career as a master storyteller, performer and artist. It was so special to witness – an evening that was not just a concert but a meticulously constructed experience, immersive and unforgettable.
More photos from the concert.
