Marquee crowd filled with ‘Almighty Love’ for Damien Dempsey
If ever there was a time for prayer, it’d have to be this weekend.
With the European and local election results being gradually revealed in count centres across Ireland; and the Leaving and Junior Cert exams now both in full swing, wreaking havoc in many a household, sure the country’s nerves are in bits!
It’s good luck, then, that it’s on such a tense Saturday night that Irish folk rocker Damien Dempsey graces the Live at the Marquee stage.
It’s just the tonic for those looking for a fix of spirituality in these trying times – if slightly unorthodox. After all, the singer regularly nicknames the dedicated congregation of fans at his live shows ‘The Church of Damo’ – and boy are they all singing from the same hymn sheet throughout this Marquee set.
From the moment he races on stage, belting out a high-energy rendition of ‘Almighty Love’, and ‘Negative Vibes’ the crowd are hanging on his every word. They follow his lead, never missing a beat, throughout the well varied set, including slower, more emotional moments where you could almost hear a pin drop during ‘Apple of My Eye’ and ‘Chris and Stevie’, a song that sensitively addresses the mental health crisis in Ireland, and how it’s affected young men in particular.
Damo’s influences, from his late friend Shane MacGowan to the legendary Luke Kelly, shine through in his captivating stage presence and within the fabric of the songs themselves.
The night is an undeniable celebration of Irish talent, kicked off in great fashion by special guests Hermitage Green, one of the country’s most popular bands in recent years, who whip the crowd into a frenzy early doors.
While it’s the Limerick quartet’s first appearance in the Live at the Marquee lineup, it’s very easy to picture them headlining their own show at the Marquee in the not too distant future, if Saturday night’s performance is anything to go by.
They are, as Damo jokes, “a bit too feckin good”. But then, as the entirety of Saturday’s congregation must confess, so too is the main man himself! A Dub through and through, he’s right at home here in the real capital none the less, rocking out the iconic blue and yellow tent.
Live at the Marquee continues throughout this month, hosting comedian Theo Von on Sunday and singer Bryan Adams on Tuesday. The festival concludes with Tom Odell’s show on June 25th.
