NewDad at Cyprus Avenue (Photos)

Melancholy Magic from NewDad Shines Bright at Cyprus Avenue. Galway indie rock band NewDad brought their sweeping, emotionally charged brand of shoegaze to the intimate setting of Cyprus Avenue on Saturday night, delivering a performance that again highlighted their status as one of the must-see young Irish talents.

The compact venue, renowned for its acoustics, proved the perfect crucible for the band's sound. From the moment frontwoman Julie Dawson stepped into the single spotlight, opening with the ethereal, slow-burn of "Other Side," the crammed-packed venue was captivated. It's a testament to the band’s growing stage presence that they can command such silence before shattering it with a wall of noise as the rest of the band, guitarist Sean O’Dowd, Fiachra Parslow, drums, and Marie Freiss on bass, joined in.

The band seamlessly blended new, heavier material, such as the defiant, angst-ridden anthem "Roobosh" and the punchy, immediately infectious "Entertainer," with beloved older tracks. Fan favourites such as "Blue" and "Angel" were met with collective adoration, transforming the venue into a single, unified voice. Dawson's vocals, alternating between a dreamlike, almost whispered fragility and moments of full-throated, cathartic rage, were the heart of the show, delivering lyrics about homesickness and existential frustration with searing authenticity.

The rhythm section provided a relentless, grounding force. Parslow’s drumming was dynamic and precise, driving the emotional shifts, while O’Dowd’s guitar work was a masterclass in controlled chaos—thick, distorted riffs that never sacrificed melody. Their sound filled every corner of the Leeside venue, underlining its sound quality lived up to its reputation.

The gig’s triumph lay in its duality: the moments of tender intimacy, where Dawson connected with the audience through a simple smile or a quick, self-deprecating joke, contrasted sharply with the final, soaring crescendos of noise. NewDad are a band that looks up, not down at their shoes, commanding the stage with a tangible chemistry that makes even their heaviest moments feel personal. It was a thrilling, emotional night that proved NewDad are not just a wave, but a force.

Kinsale natives Cardinals, were home for the weekend and provided the perfect opening.