Bronagh Bracken
Fred Zepplin’s
30 May 2025
Sam Healy
The night opened with a gorgeous set from Sam Healy, who had the crowd gently swaying with a dreamy mix of introspective lyrics, silky vocals, and smooth guitar playing. Though “playing” mightn’t do it justice. When Sam picks up the guitar, it’s more like the two of them are in conversation, taking turns to sing. The guitar almost feels like it’s backing him up with shimmering licks and harmonics that land just right.
His signature ambient singer-songwriter style floats around the room with ease. Though he’s humble and his songs are gentle, there’s real weight behind the softness. With songs touching on first kisses and quiet heartbreaks, Sam wraps listeners up in a bubble of their own feelings and memories, drifting off in the blue, until the applause takes your feet back to the ground and you remember there’s other people in the room.
Maicín
As always, Maicín’s set felt like stepping into the opening scene of a ‘90s cult classic something fun, a bit chaotic, and totally heartwarming. The magic moment when you knew it would be a great gig, was when all five of them came in on harmonies during Looking Up. From then on, they had the crowd wrapped around their little finger. Shakers, tambourines and triangles were passed around the room, and before long, everyone was part of the band.
The band’s usual mischief was alive and well too, with handmade signs scattered around Fred’s reading things like “Ask Darragh about Portugal,” “Don’t ask Meabh about tennis,” “Tip your landlords,” and “Nice suit, d*ckhead.” Even with Ryan only finding out about their So Happy Together cover a few hours before the gig and his recurring nightmare of Matt switching the set last minute, it all came together seamlessly with the crowd singing along. There was even a group of lads in arms in a circle really feeling it. By the end, the whole room was floating, lost in it with smiles all round.
