Live Report: Good Neighbours bring summer to rainy Dublin

English indie rock duo Good Neighbours, comprising Oli Fox and Scott Verrill, kicked off their UK and Europe tour at The Academy on Tuesday. The band's song ‘Home’, which was released two years ago, went viral on TikTok, being used in over 410k posts. Since then, the band has continuously gained more recognition and a bigger fanbase, touring all over the world. Fox himself reflected on this, remembering that the last time the band performed in Dublin, it was "across the water" in the cosier Workman's.

Supporting Good Neighbours, Master Peace’s set was an incredible blend of a concert and a nightclub. Some of his drum-driven tracks, such as an unreleased Love/Hate inspired song, with contrasting soft and breathy vocals, were reminiscent of Frank Ocean. Other sounds, including upbeat and high-energy ‘Start You Up’ and cymbal-heavy ‘GET NAUGHTY!’ with their electronic synths and driving rhythm, reminded me of the Black Eyed Peas.

The highlight of Master Peace’s performance was ‘Home’, sharing the same name as Good Neighbours' viral hit, an infectious song that made it impossible not to dance. The energy in the room became electrifying with the crowd singing along to the football chant chorus, and with the singer jumping into the crowd, dancing with fans without a care in the world.

Good Neighbours at The Academy on February 10 2026. Copyright Maizy Kharrazian/hotpress.com

Oli Fox and Scott Verrill, Good Neighbours, began their set alone, only using a synthesiser and a floor tom. The band joined moments later, creating a swelling noise that enveloped the venue.

From the moment Fox began to sing, it was clear that this concert was all about feel-good music. Their set began with ‘Suburbs’. Percussion-rich, drum-driven and with ethereal and breathy vocals, the song had everyone in the venue on their feet singing along. This, with the use of lighting with golden yellow, orange hues and fresh blue and white tones, transported me right back to summer.

Other tracks that showcased this summer feel were ‘Kids Can’t Sleep’ and ‘Skipping Stones’. The variation between higher and lower-pitched, and faster and slower vocals gave ‘Skipping Stones’ a young and fresh feel. Its lyrics, which mention sunshine, blue skies and waterfalls and its lively tone, which compelled the band to dance as they were performing, whipped all thought of cold and rain out of my mind. In that moment, summer seemed to arrive in Dublin.

Most of the songs performed were from the duo’s debut album Blue Sky Mentality, which was released last October. They played ‘Keep It Up’, ‘Walk Walk Walk’ and ‘found u/me’, an upbeat romantic track with poignant lyrics like: “Ooh, I’m ready to die / I saw it there in your eyes / When I found you, I found me/ Ooh, I wanna be yours / Don’t know what I was before / I found me, I found you”.

The group also performed ‘Small Town’ and ‘Starry Eyed’. The latter began with funky sci-fi-like synths that added an extra atmospheric layer to the performance. It then shifted into a track that stripped back its production, letting the beautiful narrative love story lyrics shine. Elsewhere, Good Neighbours performed older tracks from their repertoire, such as ‘Bloom’ and ‘Daisies’.

One of the high points of the concert was ‘The Buzz’. This track stood out from the rest as it was slower-paced, with a focus on the lyrics and vocals instead of the instrumentation. The track was like gospel music, with Fox’s incredible and powerful voice being the centrepiece. This, plus the choice to begin the track with the warm-toned lighting only on the singer, not only gave him an angelic look but also highlighted the atmospheric and ethereal beauty of the song.

Good Neighbours at The Academy on February 10 2026. Copyright Maizy Kharrazian/hotpress.com

During the show, the band said that they feel responsible for cheering people up, distracting their fans, even if for a bit, from the “terrible” outside world. ‘Ripple’ and ‘Wonderful Life’ were some of the songs performed that talk about living and enjoying life even when times get tough. ‘People Need People’ had a similar message with lyrics like: “Open up the door and let your darkness shine / Talk about your feelings, if you wanna cry / ‘Cause people need, the people need, the people” that showcase the need to reach out and ask for help when you are struggling.

The apex of the duo’s performance was their TikTok viral hit ‘Home’. The track began softly with the piano taking centre stage. The bass and drums come through right as Fox sang the chorus, accompanied by the crowd, which couldn’t contain itself and sang the track word for word. As everyone sang along, the lights turned on with this warm hue, giving the entire venue an ethereal look.

Good Neighbours had the goal of making their fans feel lighter. Rarely have I seen people leave a concert so happy. As the crowd made their exit, they hummed their favourite track or sang lyrics that were now stuck in their heads with massive smiles on their faces. Thank you, Good Neighbours, for bringing a bit of summer during Dublin’s rainiest season in years.