Thursday 6th beneath the grounds of Portobello.
A dimly lit bello bar, my first time. Lamps with their shades saturated by light, placed around the basement, there’s such a comfy feeling to it all.
We are in for a night of relaxation and beautiful music.
Seanie Bermingham opens up the night with some intimate music and beautifully sad stories about his nanny. The Irish love their nanny’s.
The Crowd were giving a very enthusiastic applaud after each song which was only fueling Seanies excitement that much more. A lovely set which settled us in nicely for the rest of the night.
Maria Kelly first came on my radar a few years a go as I believe we have friends in common and I used to see images of her performing.
Sadly I never had the chance to listen, but in the weeks leading up to the show I indulged. Her album “The Sum Of The In-Between” released in 2021 is a bundle of emotionally evoking, nostalgic songs with some intimate voice notes and messages seemingly recorded from voice messages left on a phone. It really helps create a fuller story throughout the album. “It might be the end of the world, but, like, it’s fine”. Those stories continued live in front of us too on Thursday night in Bello Bar. With a well thought out lighting set up, Bello Bar was turned into a living room for the night and we were brought along for a journey with Maria.
“Songs for sensitives” as she says in her insta bio, and if you wear your heart in your sleeve like me, then you will absolutely love Maria Kelly’s music. An incredibly beautiful night which I’m sure Maria will remember for a while.
Her new track “Drive” is out now which will also be featured on the trailer for new film ‘Ezra’ starring Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg.
Seanie Bermingham photos:
Maria Kelly photos:
Photos & words – Carl Foran