Guinness Amplify @ The Spirit Store

Outside The Spirit Store, one local called the night “the best thing that’s ever happened to Dundalk”. He had been one of about 180 people who queued for most of the day upon hearing that two of music’s hottest properties were landing in town for a very special Guinness Amplify gig.

No pressure, then, for Garr Cleary, the Dublin-born singer-songwriter charged with opening proceedings. He had spent the afternoon in work – unable to get the day off – but quickly showed it was worth the dash up the coast. His nautical-themed acoustic balladry brought the crowd to a hush; quite the feat, considering the excitement pulsing through the venue.

That excitement probably reached a crescendo when a grinning, almost sheepish Hozier ambled on stage. He might be used to crowds around 100 times bigger, but the small room was no reason for a drop in standard. It’s not all in keeping with the carnival atmosphere – ‘Work Song’ doesn’t scream party – but his control over the crowd is almost eerie. ‘Angel Of Small Death And The Cocaine Scene’ and ‘Take Me To Church’ are just as anthemic in this setting as they were at Electric Picnic; the crowd sings back just as vociferously, too.

At one point, yours truly had to step outside, and found something even more unusual than the quasi-religious experience inside; about 100 people sat underneath the windows of the venue, almost silent, trying to listen to what was taking place upstairs. That’s the effect Mr Hozier-Byrne has. By the time ‘From Eden’ closes his set, everyone in the room – and quite a few outside – know they’ve seen Hozier’s last gig to a crowd this size for the foreseeable future.

Those ticketless punters were thrown a bone when Ellie Goulding decided they should be allowed join in the fun as well, and the doors were thrown open for the final hurrah. The diminutive star attacked her set with enthusiasm, bouncing around the stage, banging drums, and generally feeding off the energy in the room. Favourites like ‘You’re My Everything’ and ‘Lights’ brought a club vibe to proceedings, before ‘Burn’ rounded off a truly electrifying evening.

A triumphant start, then, for Guinness Amplify; roll on the Ulster leg!