Live Review: First Aid Kit

Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, aka First Aid Kit, admitted to being “in disbelief” at playing to a sold-out Opera House, yet they seemed to take the whole thing in their stride. In pretty dresses and swooshing hair so long and ridiculously shiny that it looked liked they'd just stepped out of a shampoo commercial, the pair were engaging throughout. Indeed, they chatted to the crowd in a confident manner that belied their tender years (the energetic Johanna is 22 and Klara is just about to turn 20). Backed by drums and pedal steel, they played keys and guitar respectively and vocally harmonised to create an Americana-influenced country folk sound that was utterly charming.

The highlight of the night was when they stepped away from their microphones to the front of the stage for a stunningly beautiful version of Ghost Town. With just an acoustic guitar accompanying their voices, they drew a hushed sense of awe from the audience. While the Opera House is a wonderful venue with crisp, clear sound, this gentle moment suggested that the perfect First Aid Kit gig would take place in more intimate surroundings – around a campfire through the crackle of flames perhaps. But no, this was a big show and there is no doubting that their pitch-perfect vocals were up to the task of filling the Concert Hall. Klara especially could equally cut glass or sing you a soft lullaby.

After the set ended with the joyous Emmylou and the foreboding The Lion's Roar, an encore included a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's America and the romp of King Of The Road, after which the siblings left the stage to a standing ovation. And deservedly so. This was a lovely evening in the company of two delightfully sweet and very talented musicians.