Amie Blu opened the evening at Collins Barracks, bringing an intimate and contemporary sound to the historic surroundings. Her music sits somewhere between alternative R&B, indie and soulful pop, with her distinctive vocals at the centre of the performance.
Unfortunately, the Dublin weather had other plans, with heavy rain arriving almost as soon as she began her set. Despite the conditions, Blu delivered a warm and engaging performance that gave the crowd a strong introduction to the evening. Those who had gathered in the rain were clearly determined to enjoy themselves, creating an atmosphere that was surprisingly lively given the weather.
Dublin’s own SPRINTS followed Amie Blu and immediately brought a completely different energy to the stage. Their guitar driven alternative rock and punk influenced sound cut through the rain, with the intensity of the performance matching the increasingly miserable conditions. Karla Chubb’s commanding stage presence gave the set a sense of urgency, while the band’s powerful sound kept the crowd moving. The rain seemed to become almost irrelevant as the audience embraced the performance and turned the courtyard into a lively party. Playing in their home city, SPRINTS delivered the kind of energetic set that made it difficult for anyone in the crowd to stand still.
By the time Faye Webster took to the stage, the rain was coming down heavily, but the crowd showed no signs of giving up. Webster’s understated style provided an interesting contrast to the intensity of SPRINTS, bringing a much more intimate atmosphere to Collins Barracks.
Her distinctive vocals immediately drew the audience into her world. Blending elements of indie, folk, country and R&B, her songs felt particularly well suited to the atmospheric surroundings of the museum courtyard. The pouring rain could have easily worked against the performance, but instead it became part of the character of the evening. The audience continued to sing, dance and enjoy themselves despite being thoroughly soaked. Webster and her band moved comfortably between quieter, more intimate moments and fuller arrangements, allowing the songs to remain at the heart of the show.
There was a natural connection between Webster and the crowd, with the audience responding enthusiastically to the songs they knew and discovering plenty to enjoy in the quieter moments. By this point, the rain had become almost secondary to the music, with the crowd clearly determined to make the most of the night.
Amie Blu photos:
Sprints photos:
Faye Webster photos:
Photos & words – Zoltán Szabó @mrzoltanphoto