A young Chris Haze started off the evening with his usual blend of acoustic R&B. He opened with radio-friendly favourite 'Over And Over' before launching into a heart-wrenching rendition of recent track 'Be Free'. Many comparisons could be drawn with a more heartfelt Ed Sheeran during his performance. His laidback vocal tones and pop sensibility only affirms his position as one of Ireland's standout singer-songwriters. Definitely one to watch.
Oh Boland were next to take the stage, providing one of the most electric live performances this writer has seen to date. Opening with a fiery rendition of their song 'Oh The Flatlands', next it was the hook-heavy 'Waiting On You', proving that they have the songs to back up the live performance. But their stage antics really were something else; their whole set was packed with an untamable raw energy reminiscent of the early days of punk. With frontman Niall Murphy on the cusp of murdering his guitar during every song, it was intense, distorted and wonderful. If art is chaos, then Oh Boland certainly are artists.
Then The Statics were up. A Dublin four-piece who've rapidly been building an audience ever since the release of their debut EP Hidden Pigeon last year, they sport a modish appearance, the influence of classic British guitar music is fairly obvious. Their performance featured plenty of short, incredibly well crafted songs with spellbinding vocal harmonies. Songs such as 'People Talk' demonstrated their heavy pop-potential. Although ending on a track called 'Easy To Forget', they certainly won't be forgotten anytime soon. Crowd pleasers indeed.
Co-headliner RSAG delivered a ferocious performance on his Freezer Sessions return. Breaking out with a blistering 'Out Of Focus' before moving onto fan favourite 'Falter', it was the distinct bassline from 'Stick To Your Line' that really captured the imagination. A transcendent groove, there wasn't a stationery body in the room. His whole live act is phenomenal and always seems to be the talk of the Irish gig circuit.
The Minutes were in fine form as they wrapped up the evening with their winning brand of gritty rock 'n' roll.
They opened with new track 'Hold Your Hand' before diving back into their first album with the riff heavy 'Heartbreaker' and 'Secret History'. Crossover hit 'Cherry Bomb' proved to be a highlight. They followed this up with their classic track 'Fleetwood'.
A refreshingly honest rock band, they display style and swagger throughout. During 'Guilt Quilt' they leap into an impromptu jam that involves Mark playing guitar with his teeth.
A truly unforgettable night.