Live Report: Rachel Mae Hannon Delivers Incredible Set at Whelan's

Rachel Mae Hannon graced the stage of Upstairs at Whelan's last night, November 7, dazzling audiences with her phenomenal vocals and stage presence.

Opener JJ Bloom kicked off the night, performing a jazzy set of mostly unreleased songs that will appear on his debut EP in the new year. In addition to unreleased tracks like 'Loving You Wasn't Right' and 'Tears Run Dry,' the singer-songwriter performed a beautiful rendition of Daniel Caesar's 'Get You.' The lively performance ended with an energetic version of his latest release 'Cool Kids,' a track he said sonically inspired the rest of the forthcoming EP.

JJ Bloom performs jazzy set in support of Rachel Mae Hannon. Photo by: Meryl Prendergast

Following Bloom, Hannon took to the stage, wearing a stunning feathery dress up-cycled by Barry Kavanagh. Accompanied by her drummer, guitarist, bassist and violinist; the Monaghan-born, Dublin-based singer-songwriter captivated audiences with her sultry, raspy voice.

The audience cheered Hannon on as she performed her blended set of unreleased songs, covers and tracks from her debut EP Like It Is, which was released in October. Starting off strong, she played unreleased track 'Midnight Dreams.' She delivered 'Alright' next before another unreleased song: 'Cloud.' Other tracks performed throughout the night included 'Road' and 'Tell Me' from Like It Is.

Rachel Mae Hannon performs Upstairs at Whelan's. Photo by: Meryl Prendergast

Like Bloom, Hannon performed a couple covers that emphasised her talent and ability to make popular songs her own. Her rendition of Peggy Lee's 'Fever' was soulful and sassy, infusing her own personality into the classic track. The slowed-down version of Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' was enchanting and alluring, adding a richer tone to the pop song.

Even once Hannon exited the stage, it was clear that the audience didn't want the night to end. Chanting "one more tune" after 'Closer', the audience pulled Hannon back to the stage, where she played 2020 single 'Be In Love.' The track ended the cheerful night for the up-and-coming artist whose music shows immense promise.

Photo by: Meryl Prendergast

See more pictures from Hannon's performance at Whelan's here.