Live Report: Holly Munro provides mesmerising Halloween Y&E Set

Folk-pop up-and-comer Holly Munro took to the Hot Press Instagram on Tuesday night for an acoustic, stripped back alternative to the usual Halloween festivities. Usually spending most of her days alongside her producer in the same Somerset studio that Tears For Fears recorded Songs From The Big Chair in, Munro instead greeted us from her appropriately dimly lit bedroom, accompanied only by her guitar.

The singer-songwriter wasted no time in showcasing tracks from her debut EP Up Against Your Nature -set to be released this Friday, November 3rd.

Holly Munro kicked off the evening with her latest single ‘Open Ended’. A worthy opener to the chilled set, Munro’s soothing vocals and heartfelt lyrics were a perfect antitote to the mid-week Halloween ruckus.

After taking a moment to greet viewers and to thank Hot Press and the Department of Tourism, Munro introduced ‘Glow Up’, a song dedicated to a close friend of the artist. Delicate vocals accompanied by the strumming of the acoustic guitar gave the track the emotional intensity that it deserved.

Track number three of the evening was the unreleased ‘Out of Style’, a melancholy number with peeled-back instrumentals,  allowing Munro’s vocals to become the main focus. Taking inspiration from artists such as Bjork, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell, the track had steady, grounding verses before ascending into a soft harmonious chorus.

Another unreleased number followed; ‘The Water’ - Munro’s love letter to H20, and nature as a whole. A mellow, illustrative track with indie-folk undertones, Munro’s smooth vocals crooned alongside the soft strumming of the acoustic guitar.

After wishing newcomers to the audience a happy Halloween, Munro began her fifth song of the evening; ‘Give Yourself Love’ -  a heartfelt, unfiltered perspective on self love and compassion. Showcasing her ability as both songwriter and musician, the indie ballad combined soft, melancholic sounds with an uplifting message.

Wrapping up the set was another unreleased track, ‘New Years Moon’. A testament to Munro’s ability to write about both real-life experiences as well as observations in nature, the singer provided a fitting taster to the track, which comes out this Friday.

 

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Rewatch Holly Munro’s Y&E Series set on the Hot Press Instagram.

Catch the following acts performing this November:

Friday 3rd : Evie
An alt-folk artist with a twist, Evie's debut EP Since the Fire, showcases her distinctly delicate songwriting approach. At 22, she's happy to be the haunted house of the Irish music scene, drawing on dark textured influences such as Radiohead, Lisa Hannigan and Phoebe Bridgers. A more than capable live performer, Evie has sold out Dublin shows, having performed at the lauded CCI Paris, playing two historic Ruby Sessions, supported Last Apollo and appeared at the Sligo Arts Festival. Her sophomore EP Shiny Things takes centre stage this Spring.

Saturday 4th : Garron Noone
Garron Noone is a Ballina comedian and musician who’s earned himself a mammoth online following, with a reputation for his hilarious reviews of Irish culture, whether it be sharing his thoughts on Irish towns, or giving his expert step-by-step guide on dining on a spice bag. He’s earned plaudits for his comedy, featuring on the BBC’s Big Comic Energy, he also boasts over 480k followers on TikTok alone. His talents extend to the realm of music too – releasing his characteristically humorous single ‘Ready For Go (Chicken Roll Song)’ in May earlier this year.

Sunday 5th : F3miii
A Dublin-based musician making waves with his melodic voice and vibrant guitar skills, F3miii has been involved in music ever since he got his start singing in a gospel choir. He has since collaborated with some lauded Irish acts, including Jafaris, Haresquead, Monjola and Moio. Finding solace in creating music on love and heartbreak, the young producer has an impressive string of live appearances under his belt, including shows at Irish Music Week, Trinity Ball and Forbidden Fruit. F3miii has also featured on popular Spotify curated playlists such as Our Generation, Chilled Pop Hits and Alternative Ireland.