From far and wide, fans gathered in The Academy to march in SexyTadhg’s parade, and let’s just say it was epic.
Hundreds of people swarmed The Academy as SexyTadhg played their biggest Dublin headline show.
The night started as soon as the doors opened. Calum Agnew first took the stage, backed by a band of four, including a vocalist, guitar, bass, and saxophone. Agnew’s vocal and instrumental prowess filled the air with jazzy and cool vibes in his unique way. His performance, following the release of his new single “LALALA” only hours earlier, pumped up the first wave of the eager crowd and perfectly set the chill, groovy vibe intended for the night, while also setting the stage for cultivating a warm, safe, and friendly environment for all.
Shobsy followed soon after, making the stage his own and keeping the party going. The pop artist performed to a backing track with riveting movements and a fullness that made it feel as though a full band was supporting him. Their techno-pop style gave audiences a feel for the greatest music of the 80s, but in a modern style. Shobsy, who holds space with the likes of Freddie Mercury and Howard Jones, demonstrated their impressive range, embracing each high note as he performed call and repeats with the crowd. Even when the cable fell out of his mic, the audience was right alongside him singing the rest of the song a capella. Upbeat pop music rang out as The Academy filled with fans pressed to the barrier on the ground floor, and others fighting for the perfect view on the upper level. There was an overwhelming atmosphere of openness, kindness, and love.SexyTadhg had stated previously that their goal with this show was to put on a performance and tell a story throughout the set, and they certainly achieved that and then some. The lights dimmed, and everyone was locked in. Dancers appeared and began to tell their story as lights flickered and music swayed. The rest of the band soon joined and took their positions. As the music swelled, a figure in a giant and elegant headpiece materialized from the dark and graced the stage. In a dramatic reveal, SexyTadhg emerged from under this piece to the roar of an enthusiastic audience.
The performance kicked off to a rousing start as fans sang along and watched in awe of Tadhg’s sheer talent and artistry. They shifted from the mic, to the keyboard, to the fiddle with such elegance and technique that it took the brain a moment to realize what was happening, but it was all timed and executed perfectly. Midway through the set, the band left Tadhg for a solo performance, which led to a stunning and beautiful theatrical dance routine with Tadhg and one of the dancers/backup singers. The emotion pouring from Tadhg’s face and both of their movements, accompanied by incredible lighting design, stunned the whole audience into silence. If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind that SexyTadhg wasn’t a triple threat, that doubt was surely quashed now.
Between Tadhg’s hypnotic vocals in both English and Irish, wardrobe changes, the engaging background display, amongst everything else, it’s almost impossible to identify the best part of the night. What really sent chills down audiences’ spines, however, was the riveting encore performance of “My Parade.” The seven-minute anthem proclaimed Tadhg’s message of fighting for equality and the basic rights of all human beings, and was the perfect ending to a fun-filled night.
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