South Arcade Live Review Academy Dublin
By A High-Energy Riot of Y2K-Core
South Arcade brought their high-energy act to the Academy Dublin last night, transforming the venue into something closer to an adrenaline-soaked skate hangout, graffiti walls and all.
Pulling no punches, they tore straight into ‘Fear Of Heights’, ‘Supermodels’, and ‘Nepo Baby’ in rapid-fire succession. No time-outs, no breathers — just full-throttle Y2K-core, fast and feral. The packed-out crowd matched the chaos beat for beat, a mini mosh pit erupting before the second chorus even hit.
Frontwoman Harmony Cavelle owned every inch of the stage, prowling it like it’s her personal playground — all while delivering seriously powerful vocals that hit every corner of the Academy.
Pushing through a 13-track set, they teased the crowd with two unreleased cuts from their upcoming EP. “Bleed Out” and “Blood Run Warm” landed with a dark-pop punch that hinted at a sharper, pop punk direction for South Arcade — and both went down a storm with the audience.
There’s little doubt that South Arcade are building a movement of their own — and it’s gathering momentum fast. Their songs hit with a mix of high-voltage hooks and glossy, youthful chaos, the kind of infectious energy that mirrors their live show: loud, unfiltered, and impossible not to get swept up in.
They closed the night with three absolute monsters — “Riptide”, “Stone Cold Summer”, and the fan-favourite “2005”. Each one hit with explosive impact, turning the Academy into a unified shout-along and cementing exactly why these tracks have become staples in their arsenal.
Verdict
South Arcade are crafting some seriously awesome music, matched by a live performance that tears through the set at breakneck pace, delivering a high-impact sound
MORE PHOTOS HERE
Setlist
| Fear Of Heights Supermodels Nepo Baby Danger How To Get Away With Muder Bleed Out Moth Kids | Drive Myself Home Sound Of An Empty Room Blood Run Warm Riptide Stone Cold Summer 2005 |
Connect with South Arcade
Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Opening Act STONE
Starting with a bold statement: easily the best opening act I’ve seen all year. I was completely gobsmacked by their performance.
Their ten-track setlist ripped through highlights like “Never Again”, “Let’s Dance”, and “Monkey See Monkey Do”, but it was “Sweet Heroine” and “Leave It Out” that truly stood out — tracks that combined raw emotion with soaring hooks and punk-like vibes, leaving a lasting impression.
Lead singer Fin Power isn’t just charismatic and brimming with energy — he’s hyper-aware of the crowd, spotting anyone in need of help mid-set. When an incident arose, he didn’t skip a beat: the music stopped, assistance was called, and only once he was sure everyone was okay did the band dive back in.
STONE are a band brimming with potential — they’ve got the raw, snarling energy of the Sex Pistols, but the song writing chops and melodic sensibility of the Beatles. Big fan here, and seriously, you need to check them out.