Guy Sebastian has come a long way since captivating the nation to be crowned the inaugural Australian Idol winner in 2003.

Almost 20 years later the multi ARIA-award winning singer-songwriter is still a fan favourite with young and old alike.

This was evident on Saturday night at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.

Sebastian had kids as young as eight to people in their 60s and 70s up and dancing along to his tracks.

This reporter has seen from a distance how Sebastian has gone from the kid with the Afro hairstyle and voice of an angel, to a bonafide musical superstar.

But it was only after watching Sebastian perform in the flesh for the first time that I truly appreciated how talented The Voice Australia coach is.

Sebastian also has a knack of bringing out the best in those he mentors and performs with.

His performance on stage with Bella Taylor Smith was one of many highlights on the night.

The duo sang two songs including Art of Love, which Sebastian originally performed with Jordin Sparks.

Sebastian was also at his best when mixing with his multi-talented four-piece ensemble.

This was especially the case when he got vocalist Gary Pinto, formerly of dance group CDM, to sing Let's Groove.

The catchy pop song had many up and dancing, and set the scene for more soulful tracks later in the evening.

Regaling the crowd between songs with charming tales of his inspiration, it was Sebastian's ability to inject raw emotion into vibrant pop arrangements that truly engaged the audience.

Sebastian also doesn't take himself too seriously and takes the piss out of himself even when a backstage wardrobe malfunction led to some in the crowd, including this reporter's wife, "happily seeing a whole new side of Guy".

Sebastian played many of the songs on his ninth studio album T.R.U.T.H, which is about his life, the "things I've been through and my truths".

As such a lot of songs including Who I Love and Standing with You, were dedicated to and about his love for his wife Jules and their two children.

While not one for commenting on politics or taking an activist stand with his music, Sebastian touched on society's tough couple of years when he sang In a World, in front of a big-screen montage of recent man-made and natural disasters, including the floods in Queensland and NSW.

Like a Drum, Before I Go and Choir went down a treat on the night, as did one of his older songs Battle Scars, which features rapper Lupe Fiasco.

Throughout the night Sebastian experimented with a broader range of styles and genres which led to a truly captivating live experience.

Guy Sebastian's T.R.U.T.H national tour continues with performances in Sydney, Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Visit www.guysebastian.com/tour for details.

To read more stories, download the Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Sign up for breaking news emails below ...