Photos: Adam Ellison Photography
As we prepare for the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Racecourse finale, The Strypes raise the festival’s momentum with its best show of the summer.
When you look at the list of artists who have performed at 2016’s Bulmers Live At Leopardstown series, it’s clearly a very tough feat to follow on from any of them. This isn’t a worry for The Strypes – who, last night, treated the Leopardstown crowd to the best performance of the summer festival so far.
As they stepped on stage to begin the show, The Strypes were greeted with roaring applause from the large crowd that had already gathered prior to the show. This isn’t always the case at the Bulmers Live series, which seemingly relies on the music itself attracting an audience during the gigs. The mob that had formed even before the band were on stage was surely a sign of what was to come.
Whether you’ve known these guys since their formation in 2010 or you’re seeing them for the first time, you’re guaranteed a good night. Their positive and energetic vibes are ridiculously infectious, while their catchy hooks will have you dancing and bopping your head within seconds of them starting their first track. Last night was a great example of this. The no-nonsense frontman Ross Farrelly commanded respect as he expertly belted his way through line after line each song, occasionally looking to his harmonica for that extra touch of rockabilly flavour.
I’d argue that the true magic behind The Strypes’ live performance was in the music itself. Between guitarist Josh McClorey and bassist Pete O’Hanlon, the stage was almost a blur of energy. The two lads hopped and bounced their way around the stage for nearly the entire show, adding more “tricks” to their act as the night went on. One particular highlight saw Josh swing the guitar behind his back before performing an entire solo in that position – how many of us could perform that same solo holding the guitar the right way around?!
After a performance like this one, we can’t wait to see what’s next for The Strypes. At such a young age, it’s a wonder to witness these guys live, and a total breath of fresh air. We can only hope they go on to even greater heights and continue to influence and inspire generations to come.
Next week – Bulmers Live At Leopardstown wraps up the summer with a huge performance from the legendary Irish band The Boomtown Rats. Keep an eye on us for reviews and photos!