The Lumineers at Virgin Media Park (Photos)

The Lumineers Bring Raw Energy and Massive Anthems to a Scorched Virgin Media Park! As the Irish heatwave continued, the Virgin Media Park Summer Music Series reached its penultimate event, New Jersey via Denver

Indie folk-rock heavyweights The Lumineers orchestrated a massive family reunion. On the back of their latest album Automatic, the band transcended the sun drenched crowd into a state of ecstasy combining cinematic storytelling with raw, foot stomping energy for an extraordinary rebel county debut.

Virgin Media Park, with its tight, community-stadium layout, felt uniquely suited to the band's acoustic-driven roots. This was emphasised even more with the stage layout containing a catwalk to a satellite stage in the middle of the gold circle which the band utilised throughout the show giving an almost campfire feel as the folk-rock sound rang out over the venue..

Opening the night fell to local hero Cork’s own Darren Kiely, his folk-infused traditional roots were the perfect primer for a Lumineers crowd.
His performance was raw, earnest, and deeply connected to Irish storytelling traditions. A major highlight was "Mom & Dad", which had the early crowd screaming every lyric back to him.

By the time Tom Odell took the stage, the sun was dropping and the atmosphere was electric. Sitting at his grand piano under the open sky, Odell initially slowed things down, drawing the audience into a huddle with stripped-back, vulnerable renditions of newer tracks like "Black Friday". His live vocals have a trembling, fragile edge that sounds on the verge of breaking, yet somehow maintains complete control.

But don't let the melancholy fool you—Odell is a showman heavily influenced by the grand piano rock of Elton John. Halfway through the set, the energy shifted drastically. He was standing on his piano stool, inciting massive full-band crescendos, and demanding the audience dance.

The crowning moment was, unsurprisingly, "Another Love". The opening piano chords sent a visible ripple through Virgin Media Park, turning thousands of fans into a roaring, makeshift choir. It was a massive, out-of-body collective moment that perfectly passed the baton to the headliners.

"How are we doing Cork? Shouts frontman Wesley Schultz as he, Jeremiah Fraites and the band stepped onto the stage. The crowd was already tightly packed and buzzing, but as soon as the fans caught sight of Schultz the stadium erupted. The band kicked things off with an explosive sequence, but it was the transition into classic favorites that blew the roof off the venue.

"Same Old Song" kicked the show off and "Angela" & "Yr All I Got": Delivered early in the set, felt less like standard radio hits and more communal chants. Schultz has a masterful way of pulling back away from the microphone, allowing thousands of passionate Cork voices to carry the choruses across the Ballyphehane neighborhood.

Tracks from Automatic translated beautifully to the live stage. Far from being a bathroom-break moment, the newer songs showcased a slightly evolved, richer soundscape that still held tight to the stomp-and-clap foundation fans adore.Every member of the touring ensemble appeared to be a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso. Seeing the band swap between cellos, pianos, mandolins, and massive bass drums on the fly kept the visual energy as dynamic as the audio.

The American Indie folk aficionados showed their true class as during the first of their set they welcomed an Darren Kiely back on stage for a duet for the song "Gale". It was a career highlight for the Cork native to sing to a full stadium of home fans. Then later Tom Odell came back sending the crowd into delirium as he and Schultz gave a rendition of "Salt".

Virgin Media Park can sometimes be tricky for sound, but tonight the acoustic balance was pristine. Jeremiah Fraites' driving percussion acted as the steady heartbeat of the evening, grounding Schultz’s raspy, emotionally charged vocals. The staging was elegant but simple, relying on warm lighting and cinematic backdrops rather than flashy effects, keeping the focus entirely on the human connection. The catwalk was the hidden gem, it served as constant connection to the crowd with Schultz and Fraites using it to make forays to get close to their fans. It was just one of those nights to cherish and file away the summer concert memories for years to come!