There’s something special about a sold-out show at Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre. It’s intimate yet electric. Last night music sensation James Bay kicked off the first of his two night stint in the Capital.
Opening the evening was Leif Vollebekk, who brought a unique, multi-instrumental set to warm up the crowd. Switching between guitar, keys, harmonica, and even looping beats, he put his own spin on covers like Purple Rain and The Boys Are Back in Town, alongside his own material. A great opener for James Bay and I saw many fans around my checking his socials after his set.
Then came James Bay. From the moment he stepped onto the stage, guitar in hand, the energy in the room was unreal. He launched straight into Up All Night, setting the tone for a set that had the perfect balance of old favorites, newer tracks, and a couple of surprises.
One of the standout moments was his beautiful take on Can’t Help Falling in Love, seamlessly blending into Scars—a song that’s always been mine and many other fans favorite. The crowd was completely locked in, singing every word back to him. His new song Sunshine in the Room got a great reception too, proving that even after all these years, his songwriting continues to evolve. He also sang favourties like Let It Go and If You Ever Want To Be In Love early on in his set which had the crowd rocking.
Bay had a full band behind him, elevating many of his tracks, while Wild Love and Wanderlust shined with gorgeous, atmospheric lighting. The production was simple but very effective—warm tones, moody blues, and bursts of bright white light when the music called for it. This was a lot more than just a guy with a guitar, Bay has honed his live performance into a proper show over the years and it really came together last night.
Closing the main set with Best Fake Smile, the crowd wasn’t ready to let him go just yet. He returned for a three-song encore, delivering Hope and Dogfight before wrapping things up with the inevitable Hold Back the River. If the roof wasn’t already lifted off, it was by the time that final chorus hit.
There wasn’t a single space left free in the venue—it was completely packed out, and you could feel the love for Bay in the air. The good news is he’s doing it all over again tonight for round two. If it’s anything like last night, those lucky enough to have tickets are in for something special.
Leif Vollebekk photos:
James Bay photos:
Photos & Words – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography