Laura Marling is somewhat of an enigma. A young girl, who’s seemingly come out of nowhere to wow people around the globe with her delicate approach to folk, at the age of only 20, is selling out The Gov in Adelaide. That’s no mean feat!

The show opened with Melbourne band Boy & Bear, who from the first note hit the folk genre head on. It was immediately obvious just why this band is in the spotlight right now. The upbeat bass lines, the layers of vocal harmonies, and the guitars being maybe the least obvious part of their sound all point towards their firm place in the folk scene. The current mood for folk music from international acts like Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes has allowed these lads to hone a unique Australian sound that fits right in with these bigger acts.

The venue was just over half full to start, and the crowd gave the band a good reception. The set progressed through the second and third tracks with that same upbeat feeling. The lyrics flowed a little faster, while still accented by the big harmonies, and the bass and drums kept the pace.

Boy & Bear were full of dynamics, which is quite typical of the genre, and their performance was tight. The crowd was appreciative, but I couldn’t understand a single word lead singer Dave Hosking sung, which did not lend itself to any great feelings of connecting with the band. As the set continued I found myself wanting something more from their songwriting. Their music lacks a certain memorable quality; it just doesn’t have those hooks that leave you singing the chorus in your head.

The crowd continued to swell throughout their set, and although they weren’t exactly dancing, they were certainly enjoying it. Boy & Bear gave a polished performance and did a great job opening for Laura Marling, leaving the crowd excited and ready for the main act.

Now, when Laura stepped on stage, the crowd lost their shit. Seriously. I am impressed by the way she carries herself and commands this attention from her fans. It’s not forced, and she comes across as quite unassuming, which I suppose is part of her charm.

When Laura started playing, the band immediately took their cue and kicked in with a big drum sound and supportive vocal harmonies. Her powerful voice is incredibly dynamic, ranging from softer melodies over acoustic guitar to bigger ballads. I like the way Laura keeps the melody of her voice simple, not trying to muddy it with too many notes or runs. This was evident in the second song, “Hope Is In The Air”. When “Ghosts” kicked in as the third song for the evening, the crowd again went crazy. It was a great track, which cemented my view that Laura's band know exactly how to bring out the best of her.

Laura had an incredible way of captivating the audience, keeping them entertained through funny banter that interlaced each song she played. The subtle acoustic guitar and vocals of “Failure” led into a Neil Young cover, which - like every song - was well received.

My biggest criticism of Laura Marling’s music is similar to that of Boy & Bear’s - it just lacks a melodic hook or punch line makes you go “wow, I loved that bit!”. However, Laura wasn’t finished yet, and it was the end of the show that impressed me most. After introducing her band, the song “Alpha Shallows” really turned up the performance a notch. The band knocked out a huge sound against an equally powerful vocal from Laura, and it was this energy and interest that I wish had been spread throughout the show.

Laura announced they have two songs left, and so as not to piss anyone off that they weren’t “rock and roll” enough to do an encore, hilariously told everyone to pretend the second to last song was the last song. “Alas I Cannot Swim” was that second to last song and it was another epic track that really showed the strength of her style. Laura is not just soft and sweet with an acoustic guitar, but big and bold with the band behind her. The closing track “I Speak Because I Can” rounded out this new level of energy in her performance, being the biggest and best song yet.

Having seen Laura Marling perform live, I think I can better understand now how this 20 year old girl from the UK has won so many fans. With a beautiful voice and a captivating presence, Laura Marling has secured a place among the top folk acts of our generation.