Ailbhe Reddy turned the Button Factory into the kind of room that feels simultaneously intimate and cathartic, with the audience across treated to the emotional honesty of her songwriting and the warmth of her stage presence. Backed by a tight, shimmering indie-folk sound, she moved effortlessly between vulnerable ballads and sharper alt-pop moments, with the crowd hanging onto every lyric. Audience reactions repeatedly highlighted how relatable and “beautifully raw” her songs feel live, and that emotional connection was obvious throughout the set. The hometown atmosphere added another layer too — more celebration than gig, with a genuine sense of affection between Reddy and the audience.
A lovely extra layer came from the family dynamic on stage too, Ailbhe’s brother joined the lineup, while the drummer and bass player being brothers themselves gave the band an easy chemistry that made everything feel even more locked in and personal. The hometown atmosphere added another layer again, less like a standard gig and more like a celebration shared between friends, family, and a deeply invested crowd , a highlight been the support band Dose joining Ailbhe on stage for the Song “A Mess”
Dose opened the night , Lizzie and Aoife built up a wall of sound with Synths and other Micro synths with the Energy building as the lead singer Lizzie took more to the guitar and stage jams with Lauren on Bass, strong harmonies on songs throughout the set all held together by Nicki on Drums.
Dose photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Para
Spratter
Cuckoo
Run Off
Arvo
It’s Alright
Chump Change
Shelly
Consumed
Ailbhe Reddy photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Crave
Align
Untangling
Dead Arm
So Qucikly, Baby
Gorgeous Thing
Shoulderblades
Looking Happy
Inhaling
Graceful Swimmer
Personal History
A Mess
That Girl
Kiss Gig
Photos & words – Wayne Polley @hawkeye_polley_photography