Live Report: Sean Paul raises the temperature at 3Arena

Sean Paul kicked off the Bring It Tour at Dublin’s 3Arena on Tuesday.

First, pop-R&B singer Ashanti took the stage. A large white sheet shrouded her from view, with a spotlight revealing the artist's confident silhouette. Lights flashed and an electric guitar wailed, building up to the ultimate veil drop.

Standing on a tall metal platform, Ashanti began performing her 2003 track ‘Rock Wit U (Awww Baby),’ which blended expertly into a cover of Micheal Jackson’s ‘Rock With You.’ A full band and eccentric background dancers complimented her rich, sultry voice, as glitzy visuals dazzled the screen behind her.

“Dublin, what’s up?” she exclaimed. “So I got to ask you one question– is anyone here… in a relationship, or a situationship?”

The crowd howled in response, before Ashanti began singing ‘Rain On Me.’ Her powerful belt filled the arena, and flames erupted from the stage.

“I just want to take some time to say you are so, so blessed,” she added, before performing her hit single ‘Foolish.’ “Make some noise Dublin!”

With high energy and obvious vocal strength, Ashanti readied the audience for Paul’s dance anthems.

Ashanti at 3Arena on April 8th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

The crowd was clearly excited– girls in sparkly outfits cheered and pushed against each other in the pit, with one fan smiling and throwing his empty cup into the air. The audience grew restless with anticipation, as Paul didn’t make it on stage until about 10:30 p.m. His set was also exceptionally short– delivering just 45 minutes of music to his fans. Taking a look at social media today, it’s evident that many attendees felt disappointed by the length of his set. Despite this, Paul was a confident performer.

Heavy bass rocked the venue during his introduction sequence, with the screen behind him depicting comets raining down on Earth. Lights strobed the crowd as a countdown began, until Paul finally graced the stage.

The Jamaican musician kicked off his performance with ‘So Fine’ and ‘Get Busy’– two tracks that sent the crowd wild. His hypnotic beats and powerful vocals held a fast grip on fans, who danced along uninhibited.

“Dublin, how you feeling?” he roared.

A dramatic fog machine bathed the venue while Paul strutted across the stage. Many of his songs, like ‘Cheap Thrills,’ included features from other artists that fans sang along to. During it's best moments the show felt communal, like the audience was as much a part of the performance as Paul was.

Sean Paul at 3Arena on April 8th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Another hit was the 2003 track ‘Baby Boy.’ The crowd sang Beyoncé’s part with excitement, smiling and dancing along. Paul would frequently wipe away his sweat with a rag, before throwing it into the eager crowd. Flashing mutli-colored lights bathed the venue, adding to the atmosphere.

Psychedelic visuals danced on the screen behind him, as Paul began performing the 2014 track ‘Bailando.’ His songs were infectious– everyone knew the words, and everyone was there to party.

As he got deeper into his set, Paul maintained high energy and positive spirits. Zooming through each song, the night felt a bit rushed.

“Thanks for coming!” Paul shouted. “I’m being told I got to get off the fucking stage. Is that okay?”

Fans booed and shouted “No!” in response. In spite of this undercurrent of disappointment, no one could resist a smile when he began playing the instantly recognisable 2005 track, ‘Temperature.’ The heavy drums and intoxicating beat sent the crowd into a frenzy. A sea of phones emerged to record Paul, with one fan facetiming her friend to share the experience. As the song came to an end, yellow, green and black confetti rained from the sky, paying tribute to his Jamaican heritage.

While the show may have been short, Paul still delivered some top hits to fans. Given the delayed start time, it's understandable why many felt shortchanged.

See the full photo gallery here.