There was something special in the air during Kodaline's recent performance at Belfast's Waterfront Hall. It was a fact that everyone who attended was there to have a good night enjoying live music, something which we have all been deprived of for such a long time, due to the pandemic. Here at The Lowdown, we were fortunate enough to be able to attend the Belfast tour date of Kodaline's recent tour. Keep reading to check out our review!
Maria Kelly was the support act for this show. She is a very talented up-and-coming singer and song-writer. She has such a beautiful voice, with her captivating tones perfectly filling the auditorium, and we definitely recommend checking her out! Working her way through an acoustic set, she certainly got the audience prepared for Kodaline. Having recently released her debut album, we are immensely excited to watch her go from strength to strength and see what 2022 has in store for her!
After a short interval, it was then time for the main artist: Kodaline. As the lights went down and the band appeared on stage, the atmosphere was truly electric. They opened their set with 'Wherever You Are,' which was the lead single off their most recent album 'One Day At A Time.' There was something very special about hearing live music once again, and with the opening song, they certainly set the precedent for what could be expected from the remainder of their set - a fantastic array of their timeless hits, both new tracks and older classics, along with captivating arrangements for each of the tracks!
There was a unique energy from the band. It was clear that being back on stage made them all undeniably ecstatic. Despite it being an acoustic set, their energy never once wavered and the crowd cheered and sang along to each and every song. Working their way through a set of tracks that included 'Ready,' 'Brand New Day,' 'The One' and 'High Hopes' to name only a few, the exceptional musical talents of the band were exemplified. With fairly simplistic staging and an emphasis on their vocals and variety of instruments used throughout their set, the band got the audience on several occasions!
The most poignant moment of the performance was during the encore, when the four-piece appeared back on stage. With no microphone and only a guitar to accompany, Kodaline performed an incredibly stripped-back version of 'Bring It On Home To Me,' once again getting the audience involved. Aptly wrapping up their set with 'Everything Works Out In The End,' Kodaline truly put on a fantastic show upon their return to Belfast!
Kodaline have a couple of shows remaining on this tour, before finishing with two sold-out shows in Dublin's 3Olympia Theatre. With the long-awaited return of live music, Kodaline are certainly making the most of being able to perform to fans around their home country of Ireland!
By Rachel Dempster
The Lowdown is an online blog & print entertainment platform for music discovery featuring the very best in both established and upcoming talent. Find the latest news, reviews, interviews with your favourite artists and grab tickets to upcoming gigs & tours.