Nestled in the recently renovated Bondi Pavilion, the hub of buzzing young Eastern suburbs socialites, lies an intimate theatre; something of a refuge from the weather, the crowds and the relentless charms of the neighbourhood.

On this occasion played host to a SIMA event, Dundun Firestick, featuring composer Brenda Gifford, saxophonist Sandy Evans and folk singer-songwriter Bonniesongs.

Bonniesongs: Bonnie Stewart and Freya Schack-Arnott. Photo © Shane Rozario

In the first set, Bonnie Stewart of Bonniesongs delivered her dreamlike numbers accompanied by a small band (bass, guitar, keys, cello and clarinet/vocals). With her style reminiscent of the folky-ness of Norwegian singer-songwriter AURORA, it was a gentle ease into the evening.

Many of the tracks followed a pattern of gradual layering, assisted by loop pedal, that build to the point where individual layers became less comprehensible. Our attention was pulled out of the texture occasionally by the emergence of a solo, especially when it was played by Freya Schack-Arnott’s cello, with its full-bodied, pulsing intensity.

The group clearly had an easy-going, friendly chemistry, with Stewart explaining they were slightly sandy and soggy from having been for a quick ocean dip together beforehand. As solos were...