Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald brought her Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For? tour to a sold-out 3Olympia Theatre on a wet Sunday night in Dublin, delivering a performance that reminded everyone exactly why she remains one of the most enduring voices in modern folk-rock. Unlike many other dates on the tour, Dublin’s show was main floor standing and balcony seats, something Macdonald gleefully acknowledged early on and the energy inside the historic venue reflected that difference from the moment the lights dimmed.
Macdonald wasted no time setting the tone, opening with the tour’s title track, “Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?” The crowd erupted the second she stepped into the spotlight, and the driving pulse of the song established a confident momentum that carried through the entire 16-song main set. What followed was a seamless run of favourites drawn from across her catalogue, each delivered with the warm, steady vocal presence and effortless charm that have become her trademarks.
An early highlight came with “Mr. Rock & Roll,” which ignited the room in a way few songs can. From the first jangling chords, the audience was singing along word for word, turning the theatre into a single, joyous chorus. Macdonald fed off that enthusiasm, moving easily between high-energy anthems and more introspective moments, all while backed by a tight, well-rehearsed band whose chemistry made even her older material feel newly vibrant.
Visually, the show remained focused on musicianship rather than spectacle, clean lighting, crisp sound, and an intimate connection with the crowd. Macdonald’s rapport with her Irish audience was as strong as ever, she chatted between songs with a relaxed, personable ease, adding humour and gratitude without ever slowing the show’s pace. When the unmistakable opening strums of “This Is The Life” arrived to close the main set, the venue swelled with nostalgia and exhilaration, the kind of communal moment that live music fans cherish.
After a brief disappearance, Macdonald and her band returned for a three-song encore that demonstrated the breadth of her artistic influences. Among these was “The Glen,” a tender Beluga Lagoon cover that showcased her ability to reinterpret songs with sincerity and grace. It was a thoughtful addition, balancing the more rousing elements of the night with a quiet emotional resonance.
Support act Better Joy set the stage beautifully with an eight-song set of their own. Led by Bria Keely, the band delivered an atmospheric blend of indie and alt-pop textures, highlighted by a standout performance of “This Part of Town,” a personal favourite. Keely also delighted the audience by announcing a return to Dublin for a headline show at Whelan’s in April, news that was met with enthusiastic cheers.
Better Joy photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Carnival
What A Day
This Part Of Town
Quiet Ting
Steamroller
Plugged In
Waiting On Time
Dead Plants
Amy Mcdonald photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For?
Dream On
The Hudson
Spark
Mr. Rock & Roll
Fire
Pride
Don’t Tell Me That It’s Over
Run
I’m Done – Games That You Play
Slow It Down
Poison Prince
Can You Hear Me?
Statues
Barrowland Ballroom
This Is the Life
________________________________________
We Survive
The Glen (Beluga Lagoon cover)
Let’s Start a Band
Photos & words – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic