Blue King Brown could be playing to two people or two hundred – it doesn't matter. They are a group that will strive to capture the attention of any person in any environment they perform purely on the basis of the enthusiasm and love for what it is they do. They're a band with a worldly perspective and tight musicianship, and even a passing fan of Australian roots music should surely have appreciation for their energy and relentless passion. They began their set with a sparse, bored audience which grew rapidly - in terms of both numbers and degree of interest - as the show progressed.

Leading lady Natalie Pa'apa'a called the audience to full participation, firing up the eight-piece band with an assortment of tracks from their latest, Worldwize Part One: North and South that shifted from percussive reggae and swaggered dub to breakneck funk and back. Her detailing of where the album title came from in-between songs was a touching story that concluded with calling the audience to live their lives to the full. Of course it was preachy, but somebody's got to preach it. Blue King Brown are on a roll, and it's great to have them back.

Nearly five years on from their last show at the WIN Entertainment Centre, the John Butler Trio returned with a new line-up, but the same electric, spontaneous energy that makes them such an entertaining live act. As a matter of fact, this energy may even be a stronger force than before – kicking straight into old favourite "Pickapart," John was hopping about the stage in reckless abandon with a mile-wide grin on his face. A far stretch from the seated, normally stone-faced Butler we came to know over years of touring – but, then again, this was perfectly acceptable and much easier to warm to.

His new rhythm section are also working wonders on-stage.

Bassist Byron Luiters (a graduate of the University of Wollongong, no less) wanders from the main chord progression with thick, intrinsic fills that are exemplary representations of a true mastering of the instrument. Later on, he was even able to show his skill on the didgeridoo during “Treat Your Mama,” further proof that Luiters is a musician who lives and – literally – breaths music.

In the middle back section, Nicky Bomba kept the songs together with a kit that expanded beyond your standard five-piece set up to include a steel drum – used to full effect in April Uprising favourites “Revolution” and “Take Me” - and an assortment of bongos. Too often is the idea of being a percussionist discarded as too easy or unnecessary – watching Bomba perform will make you want to rush out to buy a cowbell on the off-chance you might get to sound as cool as he does. And let's not even get started on Bomba's call-and-response drum solo that astonished and stunned practically all in attendance during “Good Excuse.” Simply a remarkable performer.

Luiters and Bomba have transitioned seamlessly into the fold of JBT, bringing a spark of life to older tracks like “Used to Get High” and omnipresent smash hit “Zebra.” Their own tracks under the Trio name, from April Uprising, were also strong highlights – the aforementioned “Take Me,” “C'mon Now,” “I'd Do Anything” and main-set closer “Close To You” were delivered with vigour and wild energy, reciprocated by a relatively small but nonetheless eager crowd. Butler himself was also responsible for two remarkable moments, as he gave an inspired solo rendition of “Ocean” and tender Sunrise Over Sea ballad “Peaches and Cream.”

Not every song worked in the band's extensive two-hours-plus set – Grand National cut “Groovin' Slowly” deadened the flow of the set, whilst an unplugged version of Kev Carmody's “Thou Shalt Not Steal” was well-intentioned but poorly conceived (John: “We need you all to be quiet for this one.” Audience: “WOOOOOOO!”) and subsequently lost in translation. That said, when the group was on, they were very much on, and it's good to know that John is progressing as an artist rather than stagnating and relying solely on old hits. Here's hoping that Wollongong does not have to wait until 2015 for the Trio's return.