Kodaline Homecoming Made All The Sweeter By Gabrielle Aplin!

It’s night one of Kodaline’s two-gig stint in Dublin and 3Arena is packed to capacity. The audience – clearly women love this band! – is antsy with anticipation, taking selfie after selfie to document their excitement.

The screams start as soon as the lights go down. A sheet hanging over the stage drops, to reveal the strapping Swords lads, who launch into ‘Ready' from February’s new album. This track is classic Kodaline with the group’s signature harmonies and powerfully romantic energy. The following track 'Way Back When' is just as sweet, as Steve Garrigan’s voice fills the arena with memories of sunny days and first loves.

“Cheers!” Garrigan keeps exclaiming. And understandably so...

Adorable-ness aside, the group gets an A+ for staging. Ten screens hang behind the band, displaying the boys in black and white against colourful graphics. The effect is very cool, adding a classic rock vibe to these modern-day dreamers.

The night peaks with the classic Coming Up For Air single 'The One', written for a pal’s wedding. The band exit the stage for this song, leaving just Garrigan and his guitar, face-to-face with the crowd. The resulting sing-along is both hugely emotional and highly intense, as everyone gets caught up in the lyrics. “You make my whole world feeeeeeeel so riiiiight,” everyone sings, all at least momentarily believing in true love.

The audience’s enthusiasm has the band feeling absolutely chuffed. “We used to always pass this place and dream of playing it and now we are,” Garrigan says with an air of incredulity. “If I could go around and shake everybody’s hand for coming along to check us out, I would!”

Their encore is a star-studded affair. They call openers Little Hours and the hugely talented Gabrielle Aplin to the stage before bringing out indie duo Hudson-Taylor for a festive version of The Pogues’ 'Fairytale of New York'. The lads finish with 'Everything Works Out In The End' and 'All I Want'. By the end of the gig, the audience is firmly in love with Kodaline—all we can say is that we hope that night two is just as enamoring.

A successful first night all around. Cheers, lads. The boys done good!