Live Report: Aaron Rowe is a new voice with an old soul in Rankins Wood

Early last year, Rowe was playing covers at his regular Saturday night gig at The Dame Tavern when one of his future managers discovered him. A few weeks later, Lewis Capaldi stumbled into Rowe's usual Sunday session at Cassidy's while on a stag do.

It's a remarkably Irish route to a burgeoning career: a pub, a Saturday night, a chance encounter, and a lot of songs. Now he's standing in front of a packed Rankin's Wood audience.

Whistles and cheers erupt as 'The Rocky Road to Dublin' plays over the speakers, warming up the crowd before Rowe arrives. There are plenty of rebels in the tent already.

Rowe deals in folk-pop and folk-rock, weaving subtle elements of Irish trad and soul through his songs. Opener: 'I'm Going To Love You Until The End' begins with weeping violin and hearty piano before a fast mandolin pulls the song into a jive. By the chorus, Rowe is shouting at full force, urging the crowd to clap along.

They don't need much encouragement. Hands are constantly moving, feet are dancing, and the whole field seems to settle into the rhythm.

'Please Don't Hate Me' is another hit with the crowd - a confessional anthem met with screams from the audience. "I'm just like my father / you're somebody's daughter" captures the deeply personal quality of his songwriting.

His songs feel less like performances than conversations, and it's clearly that intimacy that has connected him with listeners so quickly.

Aaron Rowe at Electric Picnic on August 29, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

It's no wonder he's been praised by artists including Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi. But it's not just established stars who can see the potential in Rowe. There is something unmistakably starry about him - a ballad singer with the ability to turn personal stories into enormous communal moments.

On 'Talkin To You', the wobbling violin becomes a standout feature, almost matching Rowe's vocals for emotional impact. Violinist Ronan Stewart, like several members of the band, has to contend with sound issues, but recovers impressively.

'Double Edged Sword' and 'Hollywood Sign' introduce the banjo.

The former is rooted in family history, inspired by letters Rowe discovered from relatives, including correspondence from an uncle who fought in the Second World War. The latter looks in the opposite direction, serving as a cautionary tale about fame and the loneliness that can accompany it.

Aaron Rowe at Electric Picnic on August 29, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

Reflection is at the heart of much of Rowe's music. Whether he's singing about romantic mishaps, depression or familial grief, the emotion travels easily between the stage and the crowd. There is no barrier between them.

For 'Lose Lose', he takes that connection literally.

He moves into the crowd, coming face-to-face with fans as he sings: "If I take you back, I can't forget/damned if I don't, damned if I do / no matter what, it's gonna leave a bruise."

It's an appropriate moment for an artist whose career is still in its infancy. Rowe has released just one EP, Exodus, which arrived in September 2025, but there's already a sense that these songs belong to the people singing them back.

"This next one is a Christy Moore song," he tells us. 'Ride On', a classic meditation on heartbreak, separation and the painful acceptance that a relationship cannot continue, is usually performed with a slower, more acoustic feel. Rowe gives it a different treatment, transforming it into a high-energy rendition that fits perfectly among his own folk-pop anthems.

Aaron Rowe at Electric Picnic on August 29, 2026. Copyright Jason Doherty/hotpress.com

The set draws to a close. Rowe bids farewell to the crowd, leaving behind the feeling that we've caught someone at the very beginning of something much bigger.

Three weeks ago, he wasn't even on the line-up. Today, Rankins Wood is singing his songs back to him. Not bad for a Saturday night.