With country great Johnny Cash for a stepfather and June Carter Cash as her mother, Carlene Carter embodies a tradition that a large crowd turned out to honour on Thursday.

Mirroring her personal life, this particular Carter has pursued more than one musical style. Her husbands – she rejoices in the plural noun – have included rock musician Nick Lowe, and hell-raisin' angels rock with the best of them.

Toting a splendid black guitar, she needed time to get into her stride. Stories from her turbulent life were colourfully recounted, before the music kicked in. Brilliantly matched by her keyboardist for the tour, she packed an emotional punch with pieces from her recent album like The Bitter End and To Change Your Heart.

But sure enough, golden oldies with family connections were also recalled: Wildwood Flower, Ring Of Fire, WIll The Circle Be Unbroken. The second set began with Carter cradling and strumming a traditional autoharp.

Alone at the keyboard, she said her adieux with a rendition of Stronger, in homage to ill-fated sister Rosey. It sounded like the archetypal country song: drenched in sorrow yet richly consoling. The good folk of "Sheriff's Town," as she called us, took Carlene Carter to their hearts.

Opening act Alana Levandoski hails from Winnipeg. A song penned on Otis Redding's guitar revealed her own sense of history. The title number from her Lions And Werewolves album was another exquisite proof of her talents.

Peter Palmer