Picture this: over 20°C, clear skies, an iconic venue, and one of Ireland’s fastest-rising artists. Not a bad setup, right? Last night at Dolan’s in Limerick, Jamie McIntyre took to the stage for the second sold-out show of his tour.
Groev kicked off the night, and although they might be new to the game, they’re not playing it safe. The band radiated joy from the moment they stepped on stage, grinning ear to ear, bouncing off each other’s energy and completely feeding off the crowd. It was their biggest audience to date, but you’d never know it. Lead singer Joe Sweeney delivered vocals that were nothing short of stunning. His range just seemed effortless. They performed their debut single Ben & Jerry’s, a track that is slow, calm and gut wrenchingly sad. With just one single out, we’re already looking forward to their next.
Dawna followed, and if you’ve seen him live before, you know what to expect.That signature fluffy hair, the utterly unique voice, and a set full of charm and soul. Having supported Jamie recently at Whelan’s, he’s clearly in his element on this circuit. His voice, whether live or recorded, is seriously something else. His ability to captivate a crowd is second nature at this stage. With new music in the pipeline and a headline date back at Dolan’s on October 17th, his return is already something to look forward to.
Then it was Jamie McIntyre’s turn — and the roof nearly lifted off Dolan’s. This was his first headline since releasing his EP Chapter 23, and the crowd sang back every lyric like the EP has been out for months. Limerick’s crowd brought a lot of energy, that’s not to say that Dublin’s Whelan’s wasn’t rocking but this was something else. Jamie embraced it all like a seasoned pro, he’s well able for a calm crowd or a rowdy one.
From Y.O.U to West Is Home and the crowd-favourite closer Over Galway Town (played twice for good measure), Jamie’s performance was electric. There were so many emotions in such a short space of time, Grá saw people swaying together, eyes closed just being in the moment. The aforementioned Over Galway Town had the whole place bouncing while Not Nothing had everyone quiet, taking in its beauty. A mid-set highlight saw Dawna rejoin him, this time from the middle of the venue, for a spine-tingling version of Mo Chailín Mo Chroí. It was a moment the crowd loved. It’s raw, real, and clearly meaningful for both of them.
What stands out most about Jamie, though, is his sincerity. He thanked the crowd more than once, worried aloud about sounding repetitive, but it never did. You could tell every word came from a real place. This guy is funny, charismatic, and quietly building the kind of connection with his audience that’ll fill even bigger rooms soon. (He may or may not have hinted at that with a cheeky October tease — we’ll say no more.)
With a new track already on the way, a support slot at the Academy with Dave Lofts on May 30th, and a nearly sold-out hometown show in Monroe’s coming up fast, this is an artist whose momentum just won’t slow down.
If you’ve been thinking about catching Jamie live — now’s the time. Trust us, he won’t be playing rooms this size for long. The night was gold.
Groev photos:
Dawna photos:
Jamie McIntyre photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Y.O.U
Girl Dressed In Gold
Last Name
Everything
Say You Need Me
Gra
San Diego
Not Nothing
Mo Chailin Mo Chroi
West Is Home
Outside The City
Over Galway Town
Photos & Words – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography