Live Report: Leon Bridges brings soulful serenity to The Iveagh Gardens

As the final slivers of sunlight slipped behind a brooding Dublin sky, soul powerhouse Leon Bridges stepped into the rain.

The Grammy-winning artist from Fort Worth, Texas, brought his velvet-smooth vocals and vintage swagger to the Iveagh Gardens on Sunday night - rounding off the summer series with a set soaked in warmth, nostalgia and grace.

It was a night that began quietly, almost meditatively, with Gotts Street Park easing the crowd into their signature brand of stripped-back soul.

The Leeds-based instrumental quartet conjured up a rich, analogue feel, leaning on jazz influences to set a smoky, intimate tone. Their performance had a cinematic quality with swirling keys, reverb-soaked guitar and deep grooves that you could feel in your chest.

Gotts Street Park supporting Leon Bridges at Iveagh Gardens on July 20th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Olive Jones with Gotts Street Park supporting Leon Bridges at Iveagh Gardens on July 20th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

They were joined mid-set by London-based singer-songwriter, Olive Jones, who delivered a memorable guest appearance with her voice jazzy, delicate, but full of intent.

Together they performed songs including ‘Tell Me Why’ and ‘Got to Be Good’ - the latter originally released with Pip Millett - transforming the Iveagh Gardens into an open-air lounge for a few brief, golden moments.

Then came the main act. Leon Bridges emerged to roaring applause, dressed in double-denim vintage attire and made his way up to the mic with the kind of calm confidence that only comes with knowing you’ve got the voice to back it up.

With a voice purely rich and smooth, he made it all seem effortless. From the very first notes of 'When a Man Cries', it was clear the audience was in for something special.

Leon Bridges at Iveagh Gardens on July 20th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Bridges moved seamlessly through a setlist that balanced old favourites with new gems from his 2024 self-titled album, Leon. The sound was lush but never overblown with tight backing vocals, jazzy instrumentation and grooves that nodded to gospel, Motown, and modern neo-soul.

Tracks like 'Panther City', 'Better Man', and 'Laredo' highlighted his evolution as an artist - still steeped in tradition, but pushing gently into new emotional and sonic territory.

Halfway through the set, the stage transformed. As Bridges launched into more introspective numbers, the LED screen behind him shifted to a peaceful image of a lake and greenery, mirroring the album cover of Leon.

The effect was grounding; there was a palpable stillness in the air, as if the audience had been momentarily transported from a rainy Dublin city park to a lakeside deep in the Texan woods.

Bridges’ ability to hold a crowd in his palm was undeniable. Whether he was delivering ‘That’s What I Love’ or ‘Smooth Sailin’, or inviting the crowd to sway along to his collaboration track with Khruangbin ‘Texas Sun’, he made it all feel intimate and personal, even with a sold-out audience watching.

Leon Bridges at Iveagh Gardens on July 20th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

His band, meanwhile, were locked in and fluid, giving just enough flair to keep things vibrant while letting Leon's vocals remain the centrepiece.

The encore delivered perhaps the night’s most powerful moment. Alone with his guitar, Bridges returned to perform ‘Lisa Sawyer’ - a deeply personal tribute to his mother.

Written with poetic reverence, the song painted vivid pictures of her life in New Orleans, her strength and the family values that shaped him. “Heart warm like the Louisiana sun, voice like a symphony,” he sang, his voice melting into the hush that had fallen over the venue. It was one of those moments where every person in the crowd went silent to just take it all in.

To close, he lifted spirits one last time with ‘Beyond’, and even as the rain kept falling with consistency, no one budged. Raincoat hoods went up, but the groove didn’t stop. People danced, hugged, and sang along, soaking it all in - both the downpour and the joy.

As the final notes faded into the night, it was clear that Leon Bridges had not only brought the curtain down on the Iveagh Gardens' summer series, but he’d done it with rare soul and total class. A skilled performer with an old heart and modern fire, he reminded us that rain is no match for music made with this much warmth.