Tucked away in the West End of the city at Nexus Arts Venue, I once again found one of those quiet Adelaide Fringe hidden gems, The Lina Perillo (Quartet).

This is my favourite side of the Fringe. Amid the spectacle, the noise and the flashing lights, there are moments where the festival slows down. On a Wednesday evening, seated in the soft glow of harp, cello, violin and synth, the room gently settles as Melbourne-based harpist and vocalist Liana Perillo creates a soundscape that feels both intimate and expansive.

Performing on an electro-acoustic pedal harp enhanced with analogue effects, Perillo reveals just how versatile the instrument can be. Moving effortlessly between whimsical folk, ambient textures and re-imagined pop, the show flows with a sense of calm that feels almost meditative. One moment you’re drifting through delicate string arrangements; the next you’re hearing echoes of 90s R&B, with a surprising and beautiful nod to Toni Braxton woven through the harp’s resonant tones.

The setlist moves across genres and atmospheres. Works such as Antarctica by Nigel Westlake sit alongside Perillo’s original compositions and a striking interpretation of All Is Full of Love by Björk. Here, the electric harp truly shines, with loop pedals layering shimmering textures that expand the instrument far beyond its classical roots.

A standout moment arrives with the second-last song; a hauntingly beautiful piece by Active Child. The arrangement feels perfectly suited to the harp, building delicate layers of sound that fill the room with a quiet intensity. It’s one of those moments where the audience collectively leans in, completely absorbed.

Perillo is joined by producer and multi-instrumentalist Fabian Aravalés and a whimsical local Adelaide string duo, bringing to life music from her latest EP Impressions. Together, the quartet builds an immersive sonic world; one that feels both grounded and celestial.

In a festival famous for spectacle, Liana Perillo shows us harp can hold an entire universe of sound. The quartet offers something calming yet equally powerful: a chance to slow down, breathe, and be carried away by a harp that proves it can hold an entire universe of sound.

★★★★½ “Quietly captivating, one of the most immersive hidden gems of the Adelaide Fringe.

Show run has ended for Adelaide Fringe; follow Liana Perillo for more news. Image credits: SVogt_Photography