Raglans, Daithí and Paul Alwright storm Jameson Bow St. Sessions!

Under the beaming light of three spectacular Jameson bottle chandeliers, an excited crowd packs neatly into the spectacularly refurbished Jameson Distillery Bow St. to hear some of Ireland’s finest artists work their magic.

Underneath the exposed columns and copper rafters that characterise the distillery’s new design, two stages sit opposite one another. Stage right boasts a buffet of electronic equipment, on top of which sits Daithí Ó Drónai’s lone violin, stage left is scattered with guitars and a drum kit, courtesy of Raglans.

But before all that, we’re treated to the very first appearance by Paul Alwright as a reinvented artist, having recently dropped his ‘Lethal Dialect’ hip-hop moniker. Speaking to Hot Press before the performance, he explains that much of his new musical direction is informed by his close relationship with Overhead, The Albatross’ David Prendergast, also on stage tonight as part of the band.

Silence falls upon the historic building, before Paul launches into a set with remarkable dexterity and cutting insight. His new songs are an earnest blend of lyrics that toe the line between spoken word and singing. Fittingly, there’s a post-rock intensity, which fully complements the lyrics – slam poetry-esque axioms about modern day crises – that sound more on point and socially relevant than ever.

Next up, Daithí! Right from the get-go – with hands dancing across an arsenal of equipment – he picks up the groove and launches us into a techno set that showcases his wizardry with synths and samples, as well as his inspired use of the fiddle as an electronic appendage. Daithí’s dance beats strike a strangely beautiful chord in the superbly-lit distillery. The audience are captivated, bouncing along as he finishes with his uniquely brilliant ‘Mary Keane’s Introduction’, and ‘Falling For You’ from new EP Holiday Home.

There’s enough time to enjoy a Jameson, ginger & lime, before all eyes jump back to the opposite stage where Raglans are setting up for their own performance. As reliable a rock band as you’re likely to get, Raglans kick things off with ‘Who Knows’, the lead song from last year’s stunning Again & Again EP. It’s an energetic opener that sees frontman Stephen Kelly scale the band’s bass drum as the crowd clap along to the catchy chorus. ‘Who Knows’ gives way to a set that features a mix of tracks from their self-titled debut album and a few from their new EP, as well as ‘I Became A Ruin’, slated for the upcoming album, thrown in for good measure. Seasoned stage commanders, Raglans give it their all for a rousing set. If the band can bring a fraction of the grit, energy and musicianship they displayed tonight, into the studio later this year (and we have no doubt they will!), their new album is set to be something very special indeed.

Not setting their instruments down for a second, the band stay on stage and are joined across the way by Daithí, who gears up his paraphernalia once again. A fairly unlikely combination, the two acts find common cause in performing a flawless rendition of Tame Impala’s ‘Let It Happen’, putting their individual stamps all over the song and truly making it their own.

There’s time for just one more song. Stephen Kelly prefaces Jape’s 2004 opus ‘Floating’ by saying “this is the best Irish song of the last 15 years”. A rock rendition, interlaced with electronic fiddle embellishments courtesy of Daithí and a stunning rap cameo from Paul Alwright, it’s a fitting tribute to modern Irish music, as well as exemplifying the audacious musicianship in our midst. Tonight saw yet another string added to the bow of the uniquely collaborative project that is Jameson Bow St. Sessions; and right now, it seems, Irish music has the world on a string.