David Gray /  The Divine Comedy – Past And Present tour live gallery and review from Live at the Marquee, Cork 13.06.2026

Setting the tone for the evening was The Divine Comedy, dripping in wit and theatrical flair. Frontman Neil Hannon’s easy charm and sharp banter had the Marquee on side from the start, his baroque-pop arrangements offering a stylish, playful counterpoint to the singalong night that was to follow.

On the first of two nights at the Marquee, David Gray rolled out his Past & Present Tour to a sold-out crowd, and the timing couldn’t have been better, with the audience breaking spontaneously into “Happy Birthday” not long after he took to he stage.

He played “The Light” for “the Nancy Spain crowd,” a nod to his very first Irish gig back in 1992, in the Barrack Street pub that gave him his start. It’s impossible not to think about the contrast: from a handful of people crammed into a small bar to a tent packed to capacity. A thank you and a subtle reminder to support local acts and venues.

Clune on drums, who has been with him since the very beginning, was in superb form all night, anchoring extended versions of tracks from White Ladder. Slotted in among them were a few well-chosen covers, including a stunning take on “Raglan Road.”

The stage show was a visual highlight in its own right, with lighting that rose and fell beautifully in time with the music. But it was during “This Year’s Love” that the mood in the tent shifted all around, couples drew in a little closer, hands held that bit tighter, as Gray’s tender ballad turned the whole crowd into one quiet, shared moment.

In further celebration of his birthday, balloons appeared on stage for the encore, with one even tied to his guitar. As the lights finally went down, David sent the crowd home with the unmistakable whistled outro of “Sail Away.”

The Divine Comedy photos:

David Gray photos:

Photos & words – Shane J Horan @shanejhoran