ONCE country music queen Harris and her long-time friend, band member Rodney Crowell, and their five-piece band stepped on stage, there was only one thing on their mind.

For they welcomed the packed hall to join them as they performed music close to their hearts.

The music was vintage fare, the kind fans of the genre don’t hear enough of.

From the opening note, the players showed class. With the pedal steel dobro of one-time Harris 1980s regular Steve Fishell and Australian Jed Hughes treating us to some ripping electric lead guitar, they were never far from the action.

So pure was the music and thrill of unexpected treats served up by the duo and band – such as music from Harris’ formative days with Gram Parsons – that the audience must have felt like they had died and gone to heaven.

The only disappointment was a below-par Pancho and Lefty, but no one cared because the rest slotted in perfectly.

They moved effortlessly through the evening to share brief anecdotes and, of course, songs from their debut recording, Old Yellow Moon.

As for highlights, you could pick any one of a dozen songs, but the fashion in which Hughes tore it up on first-half closing piece Luxury Liner lifted the bar.

It was no fluke either, because during the second half, they brought life to songs on their album that barely warmed my soul on record.

It was of little wonder the audience were still wanting more, even after a two-song encore. A bit special.

Maurice Hope