Pale Waves Academy Dublin Live Review
By “Pale Waves Just a Bit Smitten”
Pale Waves rolled into Dublin last night with their Still Smitten tour, landing in the city just as their shimmering cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie” dropped online — a fitting tribute to one of Ireland’s most iconic bands.
With the lights dimmed the Manchester quartet strode onto the Academy stage in true rock star fashion. They wasted no time, diving straight into “Perfume” — the lead single from their latest album Smitten — a brooding, vocally charged stomper that had the crowd singing and swaying in unison as the band’s glossy guitars and pulsating rhythm wrapped the venue in a haze of dark pop euphoria.
With a flick of her hair and the swagger of her guitar, Heather Baron-Gracie decided it was time to own the stage, oozing that effortless cool that’s become her signature. Sliding into “Not a Love Song”, she turned playful defiance into art — teasing the crowd with every glance, every lyric. The song’s lush, bittersweet chorus pulling the Academy into blur of movement and emotion.
After that, like everyone else, I was swept away by the hypnotic surge of sound that is Pale Waves in full flow. One anthem bled seamlessly into the next — Kiss Me Again, Red, My Obsession — each song a cascade of riffs, pulsating drums, and Heather Baron-Gracie’s commanding vocals. And just when you thought you could catch your breath, the Manchester rockers delivered a spine-tingling tribute to their music roots: a powerful, heart-aching rendition of The Cranberries’ Zombie,
Closing with the guitar-driven Jealousy, Pale Waves offered more than a show — it was a masterclass in charisma and style. Heather, Ciar, Hugo, and Charlie embody a rare kind of rock ’n’ roll: sharp, unapologetic and full throttle, the sort of energy you rarely get to see live these days, Unequivocally they’re one of today’s most exciting bands out there today.
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE GIG HERE
Connect with Pale Waves
Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube
Opening Act EMMMA
Not going to lie I knew very little about EMMMA before tonight but wow what gem of a performance. Lively, upbeat and above all entertaining her set included some awesome tracks “Burning Bridges”, “Russian Roulette” with “Whiplash” a standout for me.
EMMMA’s vocals were a delight combined with an undeniable stage presence that left no doubt she’s a rising force to watch.