Hard Working Class Heroes 2013: The Review

First to tickle Hot Press’ fancy was newcomer Kobina in the Twisted Pepper, whose slick hip hop and R&B set the Friday night tone nicely. To the Button Factory next, where I Have A Tribe captivated the hushed crowd with an intense and heartfelt performance - check out the sparse, piano-led ‘Monsoon’.

Down the road in the New Theatre, electro duo Carriages delighted with a lovely merge of delicate acoustics and distorted vocals – definite ones to watch. And to yet another new venue – Bad Bob’s - where experimental, wild-haired folk rocker Myles Manley won us over with, among others, the very funky ‘Dog’.

From there it was a race back to the Workman’s Club for much-hyped five-piece September Girls, who impressed with a scuzzy, ‘60s garage pop sound, before Hot Press headed home to rest her weary bones.

Fear ye not though, there’s plenty more where that came from! Alt-electro act Swords kicked Saturday off in the Workman’s Club with tracks from debut Lions & Gold; Diane Anglim’s soaring vocal adding to the three-piece’s already epic sound. In the Button Factory, multi-instrumentalist Benny Smiles’ funky bass got the cailiní to our right busting some moves – before he effortlessly segued into the dreamy beats of ‘Sunshine’ (check it out), finishing up with some ‘80s-tastic synths.

Things then took a turn for the grimy - that’s a good thing! - in the Twisted Pepper, where Dublin/Tipperary garage duo Ghosts took to the stage for HP’s favourite set of the weekend. Gritty beats and haunting vocal harmonies, teamed with some hypnotic visuals, made for an absolutely captivating performance. And the standard didn’t slip for the rest of the night; Dublin alt. rockers Come On Live Long made the chilly surroundings of Meeting House Square feel intimate with a typically epic, feelgood live show, before Tvvins, aka Conor Adams of Cast of Cheers and Lar Kaye of Adebisi Shank, took to Bad Bob’s stage for their first ever live show together. Judging by this performance, with Adams’ processed vocal set against ‘80s synth with wild drumming accompaniment, we’ll hear plenty more from them in the not too distant future. Until next year, #HWCH.

You can view a full gallery of live shots from the festival here.