Darren Kiely brought the sunshine with him to Leopardstown Racecourse yesterday evening as part of the Bulmers Live series, closing out a wonderful day with a set that felt just as exciting as the races that came before it. As the sun dipped low behind the stands, he took to the stage with his familiar easy going and genuine demeanour.
Darren’s meteoric rise has seen him earn a loyal following. You could feel the connection in the crowd, plenty there just for him, singing along to every word of tracks like “Late Texts”, “Mulcair Road” and new track “Married on my phone” which we recently reviewed on this site.
The vibe was laid-back and chill but still full of that emotion that only Darren can bring. Darren balanced newer material with fan favourites and even threw in a cover of The Killers’ “When You Were Young” that had the whole tent buzzing. It’s clear he knows how to build a set that flows naturally, and by the time he got to “Sunrise” and “Avalon,” it felt like we’d all gone on a bit of a journey.
If you missed it, your next chance to catch him is at All Together Now in Waterford this August bank holiday weekend. He’s also just announced a headline gig in the Gleneagle, Killarney this December 27th. I was there last year and it was genuinely one of the most special shows of the year. Tickets for this one are definitely going to fly, so grab them while you can.
Darren Kiely photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Slow Decay
Weight
Mom and Dad
A Long Way
Say I
Late Texts
When You Were Young (The Killers cover)
Mulcair Road
Blood Red
Ocean
Lost & Found
Married On My Phone
Time To Leave
Sunrise
Avalon
Photos & Words – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography