"It's like if the Wiggles were an alternative rock band" I overhear one girl saying as we mill out of Vicar street having just seen the eccentric and fantastical supergroup FIZZ.

And indeed, she's right. The group, dressed in scraps of tartan and bows with their floor stomping boots had a fun whimsical air about them - almost like a children's entertainment troupe or a circus.

But do not be deceived, behind FIZZ's devil-may-care attitude was a 'devil's-in-the -details' approach that revealed each of the artists professionalism and technique. The band's wild kooky performance was polished, highly paced and absolutely masterful.

FIZZ, are a collective of indie musicians and friends: Youtube sensation dodie, Ireland's own Orla Gartland, followed by Greta Isaac and writer and producer Martin Luke Brown. On the stage this quartet give the impression of being a polycule in Brighton who share everything from dinners to lovers, to luckily for the Vicar street crowd, riffs.

The first euphoric track which the band opened with was 'High in Brighton' - a bold choice to open with possibly the group's best known song.

But the bravery paid off, with the crowd instantly falling into the playfulness and the weird and wonderful world of FIZZ.

FIZZ at Vicar Street 18/2/2024. Photo: Bailey Shropshire

Of course what prepped the crowd for such an immediate, intoxicating wackiness? A good support, and none better to act as an amuse bouche for FIZZ, than Maya Delilah, who entranced the crowd in a way the support act rarely does.

One of Delilah's most impressive achievements as a supporting act was getting the crowd to listen- enraptured, as the artists played an entirely instrumental track dedicated to a bug she once crushed in her flat. Truly the charisma of an artist made for headliners.

However the most beloved performer of the night was of course Gartland, for whom it was a homecoming with audience members chanting "Orla, Orla, Orla!" .

FIZZ at Vicar Street 18/2/2024. Photo: Bailey Shropshire

Vicar Street, with its embracing red walls and upper balconies was packed with a crowd that felt more like a personal curation rather than members of the public- people who also bought into the candy-crush whimsy of the music world that is FIZZ.

It's easy to get caught up in the pageantry of a performance like the one FIZZ gave at Vicar Street but it would be wrong to deny the music- songs like 'Close One' embodied all that was good about live music. Cathartic, invigorating and ultimately life affirming- a special kind of sentiment you only get from singing and dancing in a room with strangers.

Song like 'Rocket League' also added to this playful ambiance with each band member playing multiple instruments at any given time, with flutes, tambourines, basses and guitars being passed around with the same same nonchalance as you might a joint.

Coming to the end of this chaotic night of musical performance was truly joyous rendition of 'As Good As It Gets' - where most musicians try to speak to their inner adolescent when making angsty music- FIZZ keep a close connection with their inner child.

In keeping with the Panto theatrics of the night (the stage was decorated with mushroom toadstools, lollipops, fantastical lights and a magical dream scape tapestry behind it), Fizz did the classic peek-a-boo thing that all musician now do of walking off the stage and then walking back on for an encore.

For their final act of the night - the band performed 'The Secret to Life' , but not before playing series of audios of people being interviewed on the topic. The finale was representative of the whole evening- fun, silly and feel good. Like if the Wiggles were an alternative rock band.