Live Report: Curtisy shows Whelan’s his smoothest flows

Gavin Curtis, aka Curtisy, has been steadily carving his name into the chronicles of Irish hip-hop.

In 2024 he released his debut album WHAT WAS THE QUESTION. It reached number three on the Irish Independent Album Charts and earned him an RTÉ Choice Music Prize nomination. In May of this year he returned with BEAUTY IN THE BEAST, a collaborative mixtape made with trusted producer hikii.

He's also been enjoying a tour across the UK and Ireland, stopping for a triumphant hometown headliner at a packed Whelan’s in Dublin.

deathtoricky supporting Curtisy at Whelan's on October 18th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

The night starts off with a guest appearance by Deathtoricky, a young Dublin rapper whose been gaining some traction online over the last while. His ragey, Opium-style sound blends distorted trap beats with witty lyricism and a confident delivery, and his stage presence could fool anyone into thinking he was born under a spotlight. With his parents watching proudly from the crowd, he delivers a set full of charisma and raw potential.

After a short break, Curtisy bursts onto the stage to heavy synths, flashing lights, and the blaring sirens of ‘Gimme It’, his collaboration with Irish producer SLOUCHO.

Sipping on his beer between verses, his laid-back delivery channels the experimental flow of artists like Earl Sweatshirt and Lil Yachty. The production blends soulful textures with the grit of trap and SoundCloud-era beats.

The show feels part concert, part comedy set. Curtisy’s natural wit shines as he banters with the audience, and at times the night feels more like a gathering of friends than a headline gig.

Yet, beneath Curtisy’s humourous demeanour runs a deep current of solemnity. Many of his lyrics trace back to his rough upbringing in Tallaght. On 'Lower Your Hopes', he raps: “This that slurred speech red face drunk flow, Garda car backseat smelling like a skunk flow” before confessing, “Where I’m from you’re told to lower your hopes”. It’s a moment that exhibits both the pain and the poetry in his storytelling.

It’s clear he’s built a cult following. The crowd knows every lyric and every hook, chanting along like a choir to the gospel of Curtisy.

When he performs 'Landmine', Whelan’s detonates. His biggest track to date (with over 330,000 Spotify streams), hits like a boom-bap blast about life's big three: sex, drugs, and money.

Midway through the show, Curtisy slows the tempo with 'Left, Right', a tender love song built on a chopped-up soul sample that wouldn't feel out of place on a 2000s Kanye West record. The crowd sways in unison, singing along to lines like “Took a look in your eyes, and I could get lost in them”.

Curtisy at Whelan's on October 18th, 2025. Copyright Grace Swartout/ hotpress.com

Curtisy goes on to perform a string of unreleased tracks, including 'Yesterday’s News', 'Talk of the Town', and 'Tell Me I’m Good', before gearing up for 'Eyes'. A track that bursts with a colourful beat and another soulful sample, showcasing some of hikii’s finest work. Curtisy’s lyrics shine too, brimming with braggadocio.

He continues with four more unreleased songs: 'Sonny', 'Instigator', 'Bones', and 'My Friends', before announcing with a grin that new music is on the way soon.

The rapper closes out the night with 'It’s Not What It’s Not', one of his SoundCloud-era deep cuts from 2021 that brings things full circle. A nostalgic finale to a night that proves Curtisy is one of Ireland’s most promising and entertaining performers.