Sadie Jean opened the night at the 3Olympia Theatre, getting the evening underway in front of a growing crowd. Her set had an intimate feel, with the singer-songwriter quickly establishing a connection with the audience.
There was a relaxed atmosphere during the opening performance, with Jean moving between quieter moments and more upbeat sections of her set. Her conversational approach between songs helped make the relatively early part of the evening feel personal rather than simply serving as a warm-up.
By the time Ruel took to the stage, the venue had filled out and the atmosphere had noticeably changed. Ruel brought his Kicking & Screaming tour to Dublin for the opening night of its UK and European leg, beginning a month-long run of shows across the continent.
The crowd reaction was particularly strong throughout the familiar songs, with sections of the venue singing along. These moments gave the show a distinctly communal feeling, with Ruel often allowing the audience to take over parts of the songs.
The set also provided a clear sense of the different stages of Ruel’s career, bringing newer material together with songs that have become familiar to his audience over the years. Rather than feeling like a simple run through the latest album, the performance gave the crowd plenty of opportunities to recognise and sing along to songs from across his catalogue.
As the show moved towards its closing moments, the energy in the room continued to build, with the audience responding loudly to the final songs. Ruel got a strong reaction from the Dublin crowd, bringing a warmly received night at the 3Olympia to a close.
Sadie Jean photos:
Ruel photos:
Photos & words – Zoltán Szabó @mrzoltanphoto