After the heartbreak of last year’s last-minute cancellation, the return of Catfish and the Bottlemen to Dublin was a long-awaited redemption, and they delivered in full force. From the moment the lights went down under the Fairview Park tent, it was clear we were in for something special. The energy was electric, the anticipation palpable, and the band wasted no time in launching into a relentless set that had the crowd singing, dancing, and moshing from start to finish.
They didn’t let up, not even for a second. With every track, the band masterfully played with dynamics, teasing false endings before slamming back in with explosive power that sent shockwaves through the crowd. The sound was crisp and loud, anchored by chest-thumping sub frequencies from the drum sampler that you could feel in your bones. It wasn’t just a concert, it was a full-body experience.
The band’s energy mirrored the crowd’s passion. It was obvious how much they were enjoying themselves, feeding off the atmosphere and giving it right back in spades. Van McCann’s vocals were sharp and emotive, with the band locked in tight behind him, playing each song like it was the last.
And then came the finale: “Cocoon.” The ultimate crowd-pleaser, and rightly so. The tent became a chorus of thousands, screaming the lyrics back as if they were sacred. Even after the band exited the stage, no one wanted the night to end. The crowd kept singing, almost defiantly, the line:
“But fuck it if they talk, fuck it if they try and get to us, ‘cause I’d rather go blind than let you down.”
It was raw, euphoric, and beautifully unfiltered, the kind of moment you remember long after the lights come up. A perfect, almost cinematic ending to a night that made the wait worth it.
Catfish and the Bottlemen photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head (Dean Martin song tapped intor)
Helter Skelter (Beatles song taped intro )
Longshot
Kathleen
Soundcheck
Pacifier
Twice
Fallout
Conversation
Anything
Business
Sidetrack
Homesick
2all
Rango
Outside
Fluctuate
7
Cocoon
Photos & words – Erica Keogh @ericasnapz