It’s a real shame that Bear’s Den don’t have a larger following in Australia, given how talented they are as songwriters. Although admittedly, it’s nice to still have that ‘hidden gem’ band and be able to see them in tiny venues when they should be playing theatres.
Having only come to our shores once before (on a support slot for the immensely talented Matt Corby in 2013), Bear’s Den take the opportunity to visit by setting up a couple of stripped-back intimate shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Whilst the majority of their records work very well as full-band features, there’s a certain type of magic when the bells and whistles are shuffled to the side, and the songwriting and vocal harmonies can really shine. As I head into the bustling vibes of Newtown for the gig, it’s that magic I’m most excited to witness.
The Vanguard is an odd venue, if I’m honest. Perfectly sized for this type of gig, however I think having ‘first-in, best-dressed’ makeshift seating instead of a standing area actually takes away from the vibe. It doesn’t feel quite as intimate, and it makes the whole thing seem a little less community-like. As I surveyed the interior, it felt a little bit like a cinema – solemn, quiet faces staring at a performance in front of them. Being seated is a psychological change in interactivity, in my opinion. It’s a shame, however the venue itself is very quaint; like a tiny Recital Hall or State Theatre. The irony of complaining about no standing area at a gig these days is certainly not lost on me!
Kicking off proceedings is local boy Tim Hart of Boy And Bear fame, although tonight he endears the crowd with solo-efforts accompanied by friend and collaborator Mou. Hart does well, and the contrast between Hart’s gentle acoustic playing and Mou‘s bluesy fuzzy electric playing is welcomed. It’s also nice for Hart to not have to rely on covering Boy and Bear tracks – as he’s certainly got the solo efforts to keep the crowd entertained. It’s a short and sweet set to wet the beaks of the excited crowd.
It almost happened. We got incredibly close to a less-than-the-industry-standard 30min change-over between sets. It could have been so easy! No backline to changeover. No sound-checking required for acoustic guitars and microphones only setup. It’s a little absurd. In any case, the mandatory buffer applies and the stage is set.
Founding member Andrew Davies and ‘touring musician’ (surely he’s part of the band now?) Christof Van Der Ven are peas in a pod. They work so well together – both from a musical and personality perspective. The night is filled with jokes, stories, anecdotes and the occasional self-deprecating ribbing. The majority of the setlist tonight centres around debut album Islands, which celebrated its 10 year anniversary last year (a quality album and highly recommended). It’s a treat to hear the otherwise deeper cuts of Her Tears and Stubborn Beast tonight (the latter with accompaniment from Tim Hart) as well as crowd-favourites Isaac, Above The Clouds of Pompeii and Agape.
Aside from the acknowledgement of the Islands milestone, we are treated to a career-spanning smattering of tunes, from the wistful Sophie, to the gut-wrenching Only Son of the Falling Snow and the brilliant Dew On The Vine. It’s quality song-writing after quality song-writing, with each offering a chance for harmonies and sing-a-longs to shine. There really is something about this level of songwriting stripped down to it’s core – and Bear’s Den are doing it best tonight.
The encore for tonight kicks off with a dreamy cover of the Hunters and Collectors classic Throw Your Arms Around Me, accompanied once again by Tim Hart. We’re then treated to the glorious deep cut Gabriel before the night ends with crowd favourite Agape.
If there’s a gripe to tonight, it’s that it’s almost too relaxed – long awkward pauses between songs, tuning mistakes, noises from the bar interrupting intimate moments. Whilst this can add to the vibe, it does nothing for professionalism. It’s a shame, because with a polished set we could have been treated to a couple more choice cuts from the band’s extensive catalogue.
Nevertheless, I came for magic, and Bear’s Den delivered. Can’t wait to see them return to Australia.
4.0/5
Bear’s Den, The Vanguard, Sydney, Friday October 17th 2025
- Only Son of the Falling Snow
- On Your Side
- Magdalene
- Isaac
- Dew on the Vine
- Sophie
- Her Tears
- Stubborn Beast (with Tim Hart)
- Berlin
- Don’t Let The Sun Steal You Away
- Laurel Wreath
- Above the Clouds of Pompeii
- Throw Your Arms Around Me (with Tim Hart, cover by Hunters and Collectors)
- Gabriel
- Agape
| THE ARTIST'S REVERIE | 
Leave a comment