Garbage / Big Joanie – live gallery and review from Iveagh Gardens, Dublin 18.07.2026

London’s Black feminist punk band Big Joanie opened the evening with a raw and authentic set. They brought their signature blend of post-punk grit to the green surroundings of the Iveagh Gardens.

Driving basslines and jagged guitar riffs grabbed the audience’s attention from the first chord. Lead vocalist Stephanie Phillips held the crowd’s focus with a cool, steady confidence, her vocals cutting cleanly through the heavy rhythm section. Despite the serious political weight of their lyrical themes, the overriding feeling of their set was one of hope and joy. By the time their final notes rang out, the crowd was won over and completely ready for the headliner.

Taking the stage, Garbage delivered a brilliant alternative rock show. The band showed why their live reputation has remained so strong for nearly three decades. Frontwoman Shirley Manson stalked the stage with her trademark fierce and intense presence. The group’s dense, electronic-laced rock sound felt massive in the open-air setting of the Iveagh Gardens.

Following a period of health issues and recovery for the band over the last couple of years, this gig felt like a massive and welcome return. Manson’s vocals have lost none of their bite or vulnerability, handling both the quiet, reflective moments and the loud peaks perfectly. Heavy basslines merged tightly with sharp guitar work, highlighting the band’s polished pop-industrial sound.

The set flowed naturally between loud, driving rock anthems and darker, slower tracks. 

Since it was the last night of the tour, Manson took plenty of time between songs to chat openly with the Dublin crowd. She dropped any rockstar attitude to talk honestly about the band’s recent hurdles, getting older, and her deep appreciation for the fans sticking by them. Her banter was full of her usual dry humor and blunt honesty, making the large outdoor gig feel like a genuine, warm conversation with an old friend.

They played with the urgency of a band still fully committed to their craft. The crowd was also treated to a vibrant performance of “Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go Go)” alongside a captivating, dark cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong”. By the end of the evening, Garbage had completely won over the Dublin crowd, officially closing the tour with a final, memorable performance of their song “Only Happy When It Rains”.

Big Joanie photos:

Garbage photos & set-list:

Set-list:
There’s No Future in Optimism
Hold
Empty
I Think I’m Paranoid
Stupid Girl
Right Between the Eyes
Vow
No Horses
It’s All Over but the Crying
Have We Met – The Void
#1 Crush
Chinese Fire Horse
Lovesong (The Cure cover)
Cherry Lips – Go Baby Go!
When I Grow Up
Push It
The Day That I Met God
_____________________
Special
Only Happy When It Rains

Photos & words – Zoltán Szabó @mrzoltanphoto