We had the honor of welcoming Wardruna to Dublin this past Sunday, March 22nd, and what a night it was!
Jo Quail opened the evening with her incredible talent and magnetic presence. She captivated the crowd with her charisma and her cello, dragging everyone into her music. The audience was completely mesmerised, silent and absorbing the beauty of her music and performance. It was a magical start to the night and performance.
Then came our headliners—Wardruna! The gig was a sight to behold. The audio quality was impeccable, their performance utterly magical, and the stage design stunning with a rich atmosphere. Every detail brought us into the world they created, making the experience truly unforgettable.
They started the gig with Kvitravn—the crowd showed their enthusiasm when the intro came up, whilst the song immersed us all. It was a truly beautiful beginning to their performance, with the stage embracing a dark and mysterious vibe that perfectly matched the music. Each song had a different vibe on the stage, the background had beautiful effects and the lights had a great harmony with the songs, we were all taken to their brilliant and fascinating performance during the whole first part of the show, the crowd was visibly speechless to each moment of the show.
Then we continued to the middle of the gig, completely spellbound by everything we were watching. When Lyfjaberg started, the crowd sang the intro as loud as they could, clearly having a great time. They cheered out loud when the next song, Voluspa, began, highlighted by a beautiful solo performance from Einar, with all the spotlight on him, it was truly enchanting. The show continued, and they blew a pair of lur’s during the intro of the song Tyr, It was a very unique, full Scandinavian experience and, once again, captivating us all.
As we reached the final part of the gig with the song Fehu, the crowd went wild, singing the chorus loudly together and cheering. Then, the final song was Helvegen, which included a speech from the singer, Einar. He expressed his gratitude to the Irish crowd, sharing how overwhelmed they were by our energy. He also mentioned that we should keep the music and culture alive, which is something they aim to do—and they do it very successfully, in my opinion. He then explained that Helvegen is not only about death, but also about letting go. The torches were lit up, and it was another big moment of the gig—a beautiful and breathtaking song and performance. I’m sure a few people had tears in their eyes. It was the perfect grand finale.
The band said goodbye, and as the crowd showed their excitement, Einar announced he would play one more song—the encore. He played a song called Hibjørnen, which was a radiant way to say goodbye, and hopefully, until next time.
In a nutshell, everyone should experience a Wardruna gig – it’s truly a spectacle and an unforgettable experience. It was a night that leaves you deeply moved and craving more.
Jo Quail photos:
Wardruna photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Kvitravn
Hertan
Skugge
Solringen
Vindavlarljod
Heimta Thurs
Lyfjaberg
Voluspá (Skaldic Version – Einar solo)
Tyr
Isa
Grá
Himinndotter
Rotlaust tre fell
Fehu
Helvegen
Encore:
Hibjørnen – Einar solo
Photos – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic
Words – Bruna Feltrin @brunafeltrin_photo