Live Report: Lizzy McAlpine brings folk and fun to Dublin's 3Arena

Lizzy McAlpine wrapped up The Older Tour last night in Dublin's 3Arena, captivating an eclectic crowd that transformed the venue into a vibrant celebration of Halloween. From Super Mario to Mr. Potato head, fans arrived in a kaleidoscope of costumes, it was one big, albeit slightly melancholic, Halloween party.

To sounds of birdsong and pedal steel, the 6 part band marched onstage in matching 101 Dalmatians t-shirts, taking to their posts in the wonderful world of The Older Tour. Stage fitted with mismatched lamps, dark wood stools, softs furnishings and warm lighting, The Older Tour doubles as a living room performance, and we all had the best seats in the house. An orange spotlight sat above the stage, sweeping the audience, mimicking that of a lighthouse. The warm light illuminated various characters, shining through their hair mimicking the cover of the singer's sophomore album Five Seconds Flat.

Lizzy stepped onto the stage, giving us some context for the band's outfits. Dressed as Cruella in a cosy fur shawl, she complimented her six spotted bandmates perfectly, adding a fun and light-hearted touch to the evening. With the audience smiling and ready for the show, she took a seat, grabbed one of her four guitars and began with ‘The Elevator’.

The singer's vocals were flawless throughout the show. With her beautiful alto tone, she's proof that your high notes don't have to be breaking glass to be a successful singer-songwriter. Her songs explore themes of love, heartbreak, and the journey of self-discovery - universal experiences that resonate deeply. At a Lizzy McAlpine show, no one can resist having their heartstrings tugged.

In between songs Lizzy spoke candidly to the audience, who were enthralled by her talent. She shared emotional reflections of the tour, which began in April 2024 and included 31 shows across North America and Europe and Oceania. Whilst introducing her track ‘All Falls Down’ Lizzy McAlpine provided some insight into her slightly unconventional stage setup, sharing how “her body rejected” her last tour when she followed a more traditional approach. She reflected on how she was trying to do things "the way everyone told her to," which left her run down. This time out, she stayed seated for the duration of the show, only rising to change from guitar to piano. It's evident that Lizzy has perfected the recipe for tour/life balance, allowing for a performance that truly resonates with her and her audience.

The pedal steel played a key role in shaping the folky sound of McAlpine's tracks. At times, it resembled the sound of a violin, while in other moments, it produced a tone akin to intentional amp feedback. It was the underdog of the show but, by god, was it mesmerising.

Lizzy gave us a special treat halfway through with a high energy performance of Joni Mitchell's ‘Big Yellow Taxi’. Somehow, the singer admits to only discovering Joni Mitchell's music recently. McAlpine joined Jacob Collier onstage in the 3Olympia the night before and sang another Mitchell tune ‘A Case of You’ whilst Collier incredibly led the crowd in choral harmony.

The posse of Dalmatians also double as Lizzy's song-writing team, with title track ‘Older’ written by all of them backstage during tour rehearsals. Their talents were displayed individually with a series of guitar, drum and piano solos throughout, which unfortunately gave rise to an opportunity for one Dalmatian to go backstage halfway through and return in a blue button up - buzzkill!!

To chants of "Ole Ole Ole” and “One more Tune”, Lizzy returned to the stage solo for the encore, singing her hit ‘Firearm’ from her sophomore album.

We got three more tunes, along with one last laugh of the evening when her band returned to the stage in matching outfits—long white skirts and black tops, just like Lizzy. The chorus of laughs from the audience made it all the easier to say goodbye.

Lizzy performed two tracks from her deluxe album Older (and Wiser), ‘Soccer Practice’ and ‘Spring Into Summer.’ Even though the songs had only been out for a month, the crowd sang along to every word, likely thanks to their popularity on TikTok prior to their official release.

And with that, the night drew to a close as Lizzy bid farewell to the 3Arena and wrapped up The Older Tour. Her band, clearly emotional, met each other across the stage for a group hug and shared bow. The tunes were as sweet as the costumes were silly, making for an unforgettable evening.