01/09/2025

Georgia Lines – Hollywood Avondale: August 30, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)

It ended in tears. By the end of the evening Georgia Lines was overwhelmed with emotion as she was about to perform her last song before moving to Nashville.

Georgia and her band were on stage to celebrate the release of her latest EP, The Guest House, but with her sojourn to Nashville just days away, this night was more than just another gig.

Aisha and Bebe

Getting things underway were Tauranga teens Aisha and Bebe, two young ladies who sing harmonies, play acoustic guitars and write their own songs. Later we learn that Georgia discovered the duo at last year’s Rockquest and was so impressed that she wanted to share them with her fans. They’ve got one release so far…a song called Blank Space…but I’m sure there with be more forthcoming…

Lou’ana

As the Hollywood fills up…another treat… a solo set by Lou’ana. Usually the “Disco Witch”, is fronting a band, but tonight it’s just Lou’ana and her electric guitar which enables the artist to find the blues elements in songs such as Day Dreams and Don’t Let Me Fall…tunes from her excellent album, Moonlight Madness.

After 30 minutes, Lou’ana is gone…of to another gig…her work is done here.

Georgia Lines

With laundry flapping in the breeze…visuals projected behind the stage…Georgia and her band took the stage a got down to business, performing three of the five songs just released on the new EP.

Along with Georgia and vocals (and occasional keys), we got album producer Nic Manders on keyboards, Holly Webster on bass, Elijah Whyte on drums and Marika Hodgson playing guitar…so pretty much the same band that played with her in June at The Civic…barring Marika replacing Dave Rowlands.

This was a “smaller” affair the The Civic show…no special guests or string section, but Georgia and her band still generated a lush, full sound.

Along with her own, wonderful songs, it looks as though Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is becoming a regular feature…she played it at The Civic and the previous day on RNZ.

Inspired by Sarah Bareilles’ version, Georgia finds that sweet spot between keeping the song recognizable to fans of the original while putting her own self into it.

And following with Grow Old Without You proved that her own compositions can hold up to the bast that Elton and Bernie can serve up.

As the set carried on, Georgia, never shy about chatting, took more and more time to talk about her songs, her stories and her process.

She did go on a bit after Limoncello, but no one seemed to mind and, anyway, this was her last chance to bare witness before the big OE.

Lines dipped into her back catalogue, playing singles dating back five years.

And then came the tears.

After a triumphant My Love, with just Nic Manders left on stage with her, Georgia let the emotion of the moment take over as she thanked her band, her label, fans and her family….particularly her parents who she told us had been so supportive (Dad drove her to the show tonight).

And so finally, we were left with Grand Illusion, the closing song on The Rose Of Jericho, on this, the closing moment of this chapter in the Georgia Lines story.

Marty Duda

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