Whelan’s has always been a hotbed for emerging talents and playing there has become a rite of passage for Irish artists. This week, Whelan’s are showcasing some of the best of upcoming artists in Ireland with their annual ‘Ones to Watch’ series, and of course, Hot Press will be scouting out the best and brightest throughout the festival.

Night one had no shortage of good vibes and great tunes. La Di Da, an indie-pop four piece from Naas, showcased a selection of their singles released last year, which were perfected for the Main Stage. Channelling soft rock jams with sultry vocals at some points, and funk pop bops with killer guitar solos on other tunes, La Di Da proved their excellent musicianship. Second to none was their funky guitar-heavy cover of Lizzo’s ‘Juice’, which channelled all the confidence of the singer, but with an unique pizzazz. While the band seems to be coming into their sound faster than their dancing shoes, La Di Da is a group of undeniably talented musicians well worth keeping an eye on.

La Di Da @ Whelan's Wednesday 15th of January by Ava Holtzman

Next to the mainstage were gritty rockers, Gorilla Troubadour, who I so wittily referred to as “Darktic Monkeys” in my notes, for their sound reminiscent of that of the rhyming band’s, but with a hardened, leather-jacket twist. Entering onto a pitch black stage, soft cymbals warned the crowd of Gorilla Troubadour’s entrance. Moments later, the band broke out into a full-blast instrumental opener that would incite an arena of headbanging, but evoked a slightly-less exciting reaction in the unfortunately skimpy and timid crowd. I don’t know how everyone else managed to stand still, but I was content to head bop by myself in the corner. The band invited Kat (who seems to evade a surname) on stage to sing along for a few tracks, including their latest single, ‘After Dark’, and a yet-to-be-released ‘Human Love’ – a level up from many of their other tracks and a signal that the band’s sound is evolving for the better in 2020.

Meanwhile, self-proclaimed “hazy snap crackle and dream pop” four-piece Father! took the stage Upstairs. Couldn’t have said it better myself, lads, but let me take a stab at it. At times sounding what I can only imagine David Bowie would produce if he were writing dark bedroom pop songs while high (that’s a compliment, I swear), Father! have surely carved out a distinctive sound. The band was at their best with the more upbeat soft jam of their closing song, ‘Desire Lines’, which finally had the headbangers banging and gave a glimpse of what these guys are truly capable of.

Father! @ Whelan's Wednesday 15th of January by Ava Holtzman

After a stage shift and some technical difficulties, City Victim graced the Upstairs stage. The band, formed by Adam Sheeran, Kieran O’Brien, Ciaran O Maolain, and Wayne Foy, have clear musical roots in the likes of Nirvana, Interpol, and The Cure. The result is a sound consistently within the bounds of the familiar realm of guitar-driven soft rock. City Victim has a mere handful of songs released, but marked the New Year with the release of their latest single, ‘Screaming’, which continued in the same vein as their other tunes. Keep an ear perked for more tracks like this going forward.

According to Spotify, Germany is well ahead of the Oscar Blue curve than we are back home in Ireland. Luckily, we’re finally starting to catch on here as Oscar Blue stunned with his closing slot on the main stage. The most comfortable and confident on stage of any other performer I caught that night, Oscar Blue’s stage presence is simplistic, yet powerful. Finally, someone was able to bring the intensely shy crowd to the front of the stage and swing along. His humble grey-on-grey outfit and battered blue high tops, accessorised merely with an acoustic guitar gave way for his powerful vocals, somewhere along the lines of Hudson Taylor. Playing through his set, Oscar Blue demonstrated musical growth and maturity and definitive promise for 2020.

Oscar Blue @ Whelan's Wednesday 15th of January by Ava Holtzman

The final moments of night one of Ones to Watch were every bit worth savouring with a surprise knockout set from TOYGIRL. I was vaguely aware of the band before, but am sure to remember the name going forward. They’ve only released one single so far, but rest assured, TOYGIRL has an arsenal of killer tracks, all featuring remarkable vocals from frontwoman Hannah Worrall. I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that the cool kid vibes are off the charts here – they look like they ransacked a vintage shop and emerged a fully-fledged (and obviously well-dressed) alternative band. With astonishing musicianship – I could listen to a full set of just those guitar solos – TOYGIRL were definitely the highlight of the night. Rest assured, when they headline The Sound House on March 6, they’ll be an undeniable force.

Toy Girl @ Whelan's Wedneaday 15th of January by Ava Holtzman

Stay tuned to Hot Press for full coverage of the Ones to Watch festival throughout the rest of the week to find out who to add to your 2020 playlists! And be sure to check out all the photos from last night here.