Arthur's Day, Cork live review

Cork’s Arthur’s Day festivities kick off in a rather understated, but elegant fashion as an unaccompanied Neil Hannon on piano plays a Divine Comedy set that wins the crowds attention with hits such as ‘Everyone Knows (Except You’), ‘Songs Of Love’ (dedicated to Arthur…Matthews) and ‘National Express’. Ever the crowd pleaser, Hannon wraps up with a ballad-style ‘My Lovely Horse’.

Ivory-tinkling makes way for a wall of sound as Cork’s own Zombie Computer display just why they are the South regional winners of Hot Press’' Play On The Day' competition. ‘Honest Lies’ and ‘Get Over You’ perfectly balance feet-moving hooks and synth-driven doom, while the finale of ‘We Are Not Your Friends’ blended with a Justice sample finishes their show with aplomb.

English rapper Wretch 32 overcomes any unfamiliarity with diversions into Jay-Z’s lyric-book, while his full backing band delve into licks from AC/DC, Stone Roses and more which gets the crowd moving.

Bressie stakes his claim to a successful post-Blizzards career with a run through his debut solo LP Colourblind Stereo before making way for one man who knows all about making a departure from the safety of a hit band.

Carl Barat is every inch the rock star, and he weaves seamlessly through a set of his solo work, Dirty Pretty Things hits and, yes, Libertines classics. ‘Bang Bang You’re Dead’, ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ and ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’ all serve as timely reminders of why Barat is an indie rock stalwart who still rises above his peers.

The stage is set for the man of the moment Seasick Steve who has the chanting crowd in the palm of his hand from the get-go. The Californian’s blues-infused folk rock has the floor of the Savoy consistently shaking during a foot-stomping hoedown that sees the venue respond to his every move and departure from his kitchen chair. Steve and drummer Dan Magnusson leave the stage to acclaim and give the impression that, like their audience, they don’t want Arthur’s Day to end anytime soon.