Tag Archives: Live Music

Indie, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

Driven Snow Live At The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin

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Last Saturday was a night to remember in The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin. Headlining the venue and accompanied by Geoff Warner- Clayton on piano was duo Emily Aylmer and Kieran McGuinness under their new musical project moniker Driven Snow. 

The duo have done limited shows to date ( Driven Snow is still relatively new,  McGuiness calls it ” a baby band ” ) and I was absolutely thrilled at the chance to see them perform live having fallen in love with their recently released tracks ‘Trying’ and ‘Sunlight’.

I was not the only one who jumped at the chance to see the duo live. As I made my way through the packed venue towards the stage I overheard fans ( some stood in groups while others sat on the ground in circles ) talking excitedly amongst themselves about Driven Snow’s sound and wonderful harmonies. It was clear from the atmosphere in the venue that everyone was looking forward to a great night filled with wonderful music.

Driven Snow walked on stage to rapturous applause. Both Aylmer and McGuiness seemed taken aback by the crowd’s enthusiasm before even having begun their set. Their faces beaming with delight they set the music of the night in motion with ‘Trying’. The crowd instantly fell silent as glorious vocal harmonies from both Emily and Kieran resounded throughout the venue, beautifully complemented by gentle keys and soothing tones on guitar. ‘Nothing As Hard As Love’ set the calming tone for the night and the crowd loved every minute of it. ‘Moonlight’ also went down a treat with fans as some swayed while others embraced as they enjoyed Driven Snow’s beautiful sound, poetic lyrics and expressive vocal harmonies.

The duo put on a magical and compelling performance. They instantly connected with the audience as they gave comical anecdotes to their songs which kept fans laughing and engaged throughout their set while two Delorentos covers went down a treat with the crowd. 

Driven Snow are a joy to listen to. Their wonderful vocal harmonies and evocative musicianship is a must listen and if you ever get the chance to experience the band live you won’t be disappointed.  


Author: Danu

Indie, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

N.O.A.H. Live In Whelan’s With Support From Zeztra and Kingfisher

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A night of irresistible tunes and bellowed choruses resounded through Whelan’s last Thursday night all thanks to headliners, indie band N.O.A.H. Nothing, not even a bust snare drum could stop these guys from putting on a memorable show full of stadium-worthy energy and indie rock bravado.

But first, ready to warm up the crowd with their lush harmonies and sweet melodies was sister duo Zeztra. With charming personalities and tunes dripping in R&B tones, alternative pop and sincere lyrics, the duo were a joy to listen to. They set the mood beautifully from the very first song with their warm guitar, rich rhythms and balmy soundscapes while the sweet blend of their voices moved between captivating tones as they poured themselves into the songs. An enjoyable start to the night.

Limerick-based folk band Kingfisher followed. Taking a very casual approach to their set the band produced a wholesome rich sound that oozed infectious tones. With a hearty banjo adding a dash of traditional charm to the band’s tracks; Kingfisher had the crowd in the palm of their hands. They powered through their set encouraging the audience to sing along to their hooks and even had a couple waltzing to one of their tracks. Filled with warm basslines, some pretty slick guitar work and catchy melodies Kingfisher put on a fun set from start to finish.

The crowd erupted into a mass of dancing and singing as ‘Darkest Hour’ triumphantly introduced N.O.A.H. to the stage. This band are mesmerizing on stage and their sound is wonderful to experience in the live setting. Their set was filled with thrilling rhythms, soaring guitar and roaring bass grooves. N.O.A.H’s sound is impressive and the three-piece wasted no time in delighting the crowd’s ears. Ryan Hill is a charismatic frontman, he reached out to the crowd while singing, paraded up and down the stage and kept the fans enamoured by his radiant stage presence. The audience sang every word to the band’s tracks and danced as if their lives depended on it and, lucky for them N.O.A.H. had plenty of danceable genre-bending tunes to delight the audience’s ears with. The band’s set was a relentless onslaught of banging tunes with Ronan Hynes at the helm on drums pounding out slick and resounding grooves that perfectly complemented Adam Rooney’s superb laid-back bass.

These guys are professional. A small snare drum mishap sees them halt the show for a quick repair and a bit of fill-in banter before the band continued their energetic set. With the disco shimmer of ‘Stay Here’ and the heart-pounding anthem, ‘Shine’, the band proceeds to attack the show with as much enthusiasm as possible. 

N.O.A.H’s performance was absolutely brilliant and a whole lot of fun. The crowd lapped up the performance, singing every song, embracing their friends and dancing without a care in the world. N.O.A.H are a band that showcase a diverse sound, limitless talent and ambition. The trio display a deep understanding of their craft that many artists would be envious of and their live performance is a wonderful explosion of their talent and charm. 


Author: Danu

Indie, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

Inhaler Live at The 3Olympia Theatre

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Dublin indie rock four-piece Inhaler kicked off their 36-date world tour, with two shows in Dublin’s historic 3Olympia Theatre last week. I headed down to the second date which proved to be a momentous affair. Right from the get-go, I got a sense of the “Beatlemania” effect this band has on their fans. A member of the audience collapsed almost halfway through the first song prompting vocalist and guitarist Elijah Hewson to stop the performance until he was sure the fan was looked after and ok. Perhaps that’s one of the facets of this band’s appeal; their love and care for the safety of their fans …but mostly it’s the wonderful musical earworms these guys create, their youthful adrenaline- fuelled sound and relatable lyrics that discuss the trials and tribulations of life as a 20-something. 

Inhaler continued their set with a myriad of fan favourites that immediately went down a treat with the crowd as they bellowed back the lyrics as if their lives depended on it. ‘When It Breaks’ had the pit in a bustle of bouncing bodies and flailing limbs, even fans in the seated section of the 3Olympia were up on their feet dancing. This band have natural charisma and an irresistible charm about them. They don’t need flamboyant stage antics. Their chilled, suave stance and magnetic tunes speak for themselves and draw the crowd in effortlessly. Keen to get as many songs into their set list as possible the band whacked out catchy banger after banger and it became instantly apparent these guys are competent and talented musicians with a checklist of stadium rock-worthy crowd-pleasing tunes.

As performers and artists, the four-piece have grown rapidly. They ooze more confidence since the last I saw them and it is clear they are more comfortable on stage as well. A fine example of their musical growth on the night was their performance of ‘A Night On The Floor’. Much to the delight of the crowd, Josh Jenkinson fleshed out his intricate guitar manoeuvres between Elijah Hewson’s silken croons, Robert Keating’s malleable basslines and Ryan McMahon’s rhythmic drumming. There were many memorable moments throughout the performance and as the night progressed the venue became a bubbling pot of euphoria, fans bounced and sang along to the entire setlist without fail and it is easy to why. These guys create fun, dance-able tunes that blend indie rock, pop and funk embellishments with ease creating an atmosphere for fans to let everything go and enjoy themselves. As Inhaler belted their way through ‘Love Will Get You There’ and ‘It Won’t Always Be Like This’,  the mania of the crowd only intensified. There are not many bands around that can whip a crowd into a frenzy the way Inhaler do and it was a wonderful sight to experience and be a part of.

Inhaler are a joy to experience live. The band possess a professional manner and enviable musical talent well beyond their years. They have had to master their craft fast with a lot of eyes on them and last Thursday night was a triumphant middle finger to anyone who doubted them. 


Author: Danu

Indie, indie rock, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

SweetCake, Reserved for Rehab and Sean Looney Live In Fred Zeppelins Cork

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Last night three up-and-coming indie bands SweetCake, Reserved for Rehab and Sean Looney electrified Fred Zeppelins in Cork.

Sean Looney kicked the night off. His tunes exuded good old-fashioned danceability with funk hues blended between indie and jazz tones. With his musically tight band behind him, the room bounced with vigour as Looney crooned over slick key refrains and smooth melodic flows. These guys are naturals on stage and their organic knack for sweet-toned riffs, rhythmic drums and catchy melodies left no doubt they are a talented band with a lot of potential.

Reserved for Rehab followed. A heavier band in sound, they knocked our socks off with lush grunge tones, dense riffage and pummeling drums that reverberated through the venue. These guys have something, an exciting Je ne sais quoi that I can’t put my finger on. Perhaps its the expressive sinister tone of their unreleased tune ‘Ivory’ ( though unreleased, the song had the crowd singing as if it was a fan favourite of a well-known indie band) or the well-paced track list that showcased very sleek instrumentation and musical prowess but there is a sense that with a bit more time this band could move on to bigger things. Consider me intrigued. 

Just as the name suggests, SweetCake brought the night to a close with some very sweet and lush tunes. These guys are impressive in the live setting. The band exuded charisma with a hint of suave nonchalance onstage however the set list was fun, funky and kept the crowd lively and dancing throughout. Musically their sound is very expressive: guitars effortlessly glide from catchy heavy riffs to debonair licks with ease while grooving basslines stylishly complement rhythmic drums and warm vocals. Unfortunately, I had to rush off before their set finished but keep an eye on these guys.

It’s always refreshing to see the immense talent of upcoming bands displaying their raw talent without fluff or rehearsed bravado and just performing off the natural buzz on stage and feeding off the crowd. It’s a difficult thing to do but SweetCake, Reserved for Rehab and Sean Looney put on a fantastic show. 


Author: Danu

Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

Wider Than Pictures Concert Series With ALT-J and Just Mustard At The National Museum of Ireland

Alt-J and their fans know how to party. Originally planned as a seated show, Wider Than Pictures concert series kicked off on Thursday at the National Museum of Ireland with Alt-J and Just Mustard. However, being seated was not what the audience had in mind and before long the fans grew tired of bopping in their seats and flooded to the front of the stage to dance and sing along with Alt-J while others stood on their seats to get a better view of the band’s mesmerising performance. This sight would make you think the show was total anarchy however the gentle attitude of the fans and well-structured organisation of the event meant this little rebellion was good-natured fun against the backdrop of Alt-J’s compelling set. 

This is Wider Than Pictures’ inaugural year, presented by Singular Artists and last night was one not to miss. Nestled in the beautiful grounds of The National Museum of Ireland eager fans sat comfortably with refreshments nearby awaiting the stellar lineup. I was surprised by how relaxed and pleasant the atmosphere was as I entered the grounds and found my seat.

Alt-J’s performance was brilliant. An enchanting blend of captivating visuals, hypnotic lights display and eargasmic music marked the night as a memorable event. It was easy to notice how much the fans treasure this band, every tune on the set list was met by cheers, screams of joy and mass sing-alongs. ‘Bane’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘Deadcrush’ all went down a treat with the crowd as they embraced and danced with friends and strangers. Throughout the night there was a communal sense of togetherness that was so unique and special. 

Joe Newman [vocals, guitar], Gus Unger-Hamilton [vocals, keyboards, bass] and Thom Sonny Green [drums, percussion] have a captivating stage presence. At times their figures were shrouded in darkness with gripping visual effects behind them while strobe lighting bathed their silhouettes in prismatic colours; it added an exciting visual element to the set and had the audience enamoured from start to finish. With little effort Alt-J proved why they are one of the most successful British bands of the millennium. Their impressive repertoire has seen them release four studio albums that, between them, have sold in excess of two million copies and their songs have been streamed over two and a half billion times. However, it’s their live shows where they truly shine. Alt-J and Just Mustard put on a phenomenal performance and made the first night in the new exciting series, Wider Than Pictures a hit. With acts like Simply Red with special guest Ryan Sheridan tonight,  RTE Concert Orchestra performing the music of Thin Lizzy and Fleet Foxes with special guest Uwade in the coming days there is something for every music lover. 


Author: Danu

Indie, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

KLDD Live at The Workman’s Cellar With Support From TroyOkay and Kathryn Stewart

On Sunday night Dublin-based band KLDD played their headline show in The Workman’s Cellar with support from TroyOkay and Kathryn Stewart. This band set the bar high with their musically lush tunes and compelling stage presence. They tore the roof off the venue and marked themselves as a band to keep an eye on.

Kathryn Stewart and band set the night of fantastic tunes in motion with a sleek set of soul, R&B-infused originals and covers. From a velvety rendition of Tyrone by Erykah Badu to some classy and emotive originals such as the sombre ‘Weather’, Stewart’s compelling vocal ability was on full display. Her rich depths added power to the choruses while her soft coo’s oozed soulful tones within the verses. Enhanced by the magnificent Grace Jacobs on backing vocals and a tight and polished sound by her band the set exuded an effortless chicness throughout. With an enjoyable set featuring a sing-along rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ Stewart put on a compelling performance and had the audience eating out of the palm of her hand. 

After a witty and brave impromptu introduction from Conor Eiffe, indie artist TroyOkay followed. His dreamy guitar-driven indie sound wafted throughout the venue as bopping heads in the crowd became immersed in his sunkissed riffs and buoyant rhythms. His vocals have a nonchalant grunge element that exudes tones of aggression and frustration over the sometimes heavy instrumentation providing an intriguing edge to his tracks. With his first-rate band in tow showcasing catchy riffs, ebullient rhythms and a jazzy injection on keys it was a satisfying and tight set from start to finish. There is no pompousness or fluff with TroyOkay’s performance just good honest indie rock tunes riddled with dark undertones and moody vocal outbursts. Very enjoyable.

KLDD wasted no time and got straight into their well-executed dynamic set. The room immediately erupted as the crowd fell under KLDD’s spell. For a young band, their sound is tight, unblemished and full of indie rock goodness. With the efficiency of a well-oiled machine, they went through their original tunes with a suave and chilled bravado that had the audience captivated. The crowd danced, punched the air and even attempted air guitar throughout the frenzied set while the four-piece remained composed on stage ready to execute slick guitar refrains and thrilling bass rumbles with a cool demeanour. Each member of the band Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm exuded effortless charm and their precise, polished tunes filled the venue with musical ecstasy. The crowd sang every word, cheered and danced without fail, not even a temperamental mic could sour the atmosphere. O’Toole, like a pro, laughed off its resistance to stay at the correct height and stood on his tippy toes to finish ‘Tastes Like Tragedy’ while the crowd shouted the lyrics back to him. 

Impressively composed and musically rich, KLDD’s songs sound mature and refined beyond their years. This band have some bangers in their repertoire and they put on an impressive show from start to finish. Judging from the unreleased tracks, the soaring melodies and the energy in the room KLDD are a band to get excited about.


Author: Danu

Indie, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

Badhands ‘Far Away’ Album Launch With Support From Anderson

How an artist chooses to portray their music within the live setting can add an exciting facet to their sound that allows listeners to experience the artist’s music in a whole new way. Such an experience occurred last Saturday when Daniel Fitzpatrick aka Badhands delivered a stunning performance of his new album ‘Far Away’ along with some of his beloved hits during his headline show at Whelan’s Dublin.

Support act Anderson took to the stage and assured the crowd saying “You never know I might be someone special. And you’ll never know if you’re not listening and you’ll never be able to say I was there. Trust me, inside info, you’re in the presence of someone f**king special” before delving into tender tunes that oozed elements of pop, country and indie. Anderson is the solo venture of Daniel Anderson, a charming musician who has the remarkable ability to hush the chattering of a crowd and enthral them with his witty banter and sweet melodies. “I’m here for Dan to celebrate his album launch just like you. I’d appreciate any applause you have saved up for him to share a bit with me and also attention if you could share a bit of that sh*t, always goes down well”. On the night Anderson’s songs and tongue in cheek humour went down a treat, especially the short and melodically lush ‘I’ll get back to you when I’ve Got Nothing Better To Do’ and ‘Cecilia’s Sister Medley’ which musically pays homage to Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Cecilia’ and The Beatles ‘Get Back’ in the most spectacular way. It was a fun and light-hearted set with songs that not only showcased lush melodies and bright tones but lyrical substance as well. 

The resounding rhythmic stomp of ‘They Know You Better’ announced the beginning of Badhands‘ terrific set. With the full band behind him, the set was a sprawling raucous affair. Each song came to life and overflowed with vibrant kinetic energy within the live setting. The tender ‘When I Think About You’ and ‘Quiet and Still’ filled the venue with swoon-worthy tempos, sensual bass grooves, twinkling keys and hip-swaying rhythms. On the album these songs exude a more delicate persona, however, live, they became dynamic and expressive – a nice surprise for all present on the night.

The band onstage ( Chris Barry, Tom Cosgrave, Aoife Ruth, Ken Mooney, and David Tapley ) played their instruments with admirable finesse and perfectly complemented Daniel Fitzpatrick’s warm vocal delivery through heartfelt melodies and rich musicianship filled with thrilling guitar riffs, rhythmic drum manoeuvres and wonderful violin embellishments. The crowd lapped up the energy, some embraced and sang as they swayed to songs from the artist’s EP project ‘Oceans’, (which was inspired by the unique nature of each of the world’s five oceans).

Badhands put on a show to remember, and an unexpected encore delivered a memorable moment for the audience. Daniel Fitzpatrick returned to the stage with violinist Aoife Ruth after chants for “one more tune” to perform a time-stopping performance that left the crowd in awe. It was a magical end to a night of exquisite music. Looking forward to seeing Badhands live again soon.


Author: Danu

Event News, Live Music, New Music

Event News : Klubber Lang + special guests First Class & Coach

April 13 2022 // Workman’s Cellar, Dublin

Doors 8pm

Tickets: €12.50 plus booking fee

Klubber Lang have announced their first live show in a very long time:Wed 13 April at the Workman’s Cellar in Dublin. Special guests on the night are FIFA Records labelmates First Class & Coach.

Klubber Lang are a band not to miss. They deliver a sound that oozes slick alternative rock mangled within an intoxicating grime-filled soundscape. The band’s music is a glorious and wholly consuming listening experience. It is sure to be a knockout show in The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin on April 13th.

At the beginning of 2021, Klubber Lang released two singles (‘There, There’ and ‘Not My Day’) and shortly afterwards signed with FIFA Records. Another three singles followed (‘Sleep Well’, ‘I Will Not Wait’ and ‘This Place’) on the Cork imprint, with more releases planned for 2022. 

Check them out live on April 13th in The Workman’s Cellar, Dublin 

Tickets here https://www.gigantic.com/klubber-lang-tickets/dublin-the-workman-s-club-cellar/2022-04-13-20-00

Stream ‘This Place’ below 


Author: Danu

Indie, indie rock, Live Music, Live Music Review, New Music

Emily 7 Live At Whelan’s With Support From KLDD and Curtisy

Whelan’s plummeted headfirst into an energetic maelstrom last night as Dublin indie rock band Emily 7 took to the stage for their eagerly anticipated headline show. The crowd and band were hungrier than ever for this performance as the show was two years in waiting due to covid. 

Against a backdrop of helium balloons spelling Emily 7, the two support acts KLDD and Curtisy tackled the task of warming up the crowd. Sleek sounding, tight and exuding an impressive nonchalant stage presence, four-piece KLDD had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands. Comprised of Kilian Callegari on bass, Liam Bennati on drums, David Bradford on lead and Davy O’Toole on vocals and rhythm the band blend moody indie rock with grunge hues and glimmers of punk-pop to create a dynamic sound filled with vigour. The crowd bopped, cheered and some even fangirled over this budding band’s sound. With driving basslines, a fantastic rapid drum assault and some pretty slick guitar work there was plenty of talent on stage – an impressive performance from the four-piece.

Filled with some pretty sleek hip hop backing tracks, Curtisy‘s set followed. Curtisy’s loose performance style, fun attitude on stage and wandering wordplay made for an intriguing listening experience. With raps drifting between topics of girls, drinking and social insights; the artist’s swaggered rhymes and repetitive “yeah, yeah” phrase lingered in many of the crowd’s heads for the rest of the night. Curtisy is fleshing out his style and refining his sound, it will be interesting to see what the hip hop artist does next.

‘Put ’em Under Pressure’ triumphantly introduced Emily 7. The crowd bellowed “Olé Olé Olé Olé, Olé Olé” while clapping and cheering as the band took to the stage. It was a whirlwind of antics, frantic post-punk and sweaty moshing from the get-go. Whelan’s shaked beneath our feet as the cheeky resounding sound of ‘Stephanie’ caused a dance frenzy from the crowd. Filled with thrilling rhythms, soaring wails on guitar and roaring bass grooves the band’s sound is impressive and the four-piece wasted no time in delighting the crowd’s ears with a constant glorious onslaught of instrumentally riveting tunes.

Kyle Bellew and Daniel Clarke are charismatic frontmen who share lead vocals. They exuded a charming persona throughout the set while subtly fighting off the entangled helium balloons behind them. Scott Bellew’s charismatic drumming was a joy to witness and perfectly complemented Brandon Carrig’s superb laid back bass. It was fun chaos all around that was rapturously well-received by the audience. This was particularly evident when the band played ‘Oh Me, Oh My’; the crowd bellowed back the catchy lyrics with such vigour and enthusiasm that made it a memorable moment on the night.

Like all good shows, a broken instrument or two is the norm and a kick drum malfunction,- “we f*cked the kick drum” saw the band styling out the brisk repair with a sleek instrumental jam. The four-piece were comfortable on stage and a broken instrument hiccup was nothing to these guys, within seconds they were back, filling the venue with more blazing tunes.

Emily 7 are a must see live act. They delivered a fantastic live show with an intense conviction that few bands can muster. There are exciting things to come from this band, and I for one am looking forward to it.


Author: Danu

Indie, Live Music, New Music, Singer/Songwriter

Pauric O’ Meara Live At The Workman’s Club Dublin With Support From Sophie Doyle Ryder

Against the odds, and with a quick venue change to The Workman’s Club Dublin Pauric O’ Meara rose to the occasion to ensure his headline show last night would go ahead. The venue erupted with energy as the artists performing and the audience were determined their party spirit wouldn’t be dampened as the crowd danced at their seats, sang loudly and cheered for O’ Meara and his band.

Sophie Doyle Ryder warmed up the crowd with her infectious brand of R&B/Pop. With just gentle acoustic guitar accompaniment by Stephen Carolan her powerful soul-filled vocals reverbed throughout the venue, and charmed the crowd instantly – songs about “clingy boys” (The Boys) and a mesmerising cover of Lianne La Havas’ ‘What You Don’t Do’, had the crowd cheering and bopping in no time.

Within the live setting, the artist’s music and contemporary songwriting comes to life and is more dynamic. A fine example on the night was ‘Mood’; which had the crowd in awe of the musician’s deft lyrical depth and vocal delivery. Sophie Doyle Ryder’s irresistible earworms and impressive vocal display make her a compelling singer-songwriter and a must-see live act.

Pauric O’ Meara and his band (Ronan Quinn on Bass, Eoghan Barrett on drums and Liam Smith on guitar) swarmed the stage to a mass of cheers. O’ Meara began with a strikingly beautiful vocal delivery with just soft guitar to accompany him before blasting into an invigorating tune. O’ Meara’s songs are vibrant and more edgy live and his performance instantly had the crowd on their feet as the band’s rich rhythms, earworm melodies and intricate lush layers of guitar caused the crowd to become feverous with dance tendencies. It was a hearty set filled with sing-alongs, clap-alongs and fun banter.

O’ Meara played new unheard songs that went down spectacularly well with the crowd. The audience was in top form on the night and performed every clap, wave and sing-along that was asked of them. O’Meara even managed to get the crowd to spell out the “Illusion” part from the track ‘Love Illusion’, as a sing-along which is impressive considering illusion is a slippery spelling test when alcohol is involved. Live the singer-songwriter’s music is more expressive; ’Waisting Time’, ‘All Alright’, and ‘Techno or RnB’ all exuded a mesmerising and vigorous indie edge that elevated the tracks to glorious new heights.
O’ Meara’s vocals are very impressive live. On the night this was aptly shown when his full band sound was stripped back for the soul-infused performance of ‘Adore’. O’ Meara oozed emotion and warm tones as his vocals glided over the smooth melody with ease – it was a time-stopping and passionate moment within the set that had the crowd enamoured from start to finish.

The atmosphere was electric in the Workman’s last night. Pauric O’ Meara put on a fantastic, fun-filled show that was a joy to experience. His charming persona is utterly infectious and his passionate performance left much to be admired. Check him out live, you won’t be disappointed.


Author: Danu