Dark Tropics Live Review Whelan’s Upstairs
By Dark Tropics Bring Cinematic Soul to Whelan’s
Dark Tropics took centre stage at the intimate upstairs of Whelan’s last night where space is very much a premium. This being the Belfast duo’s first headline shows in Dublin there was little surprise the place was packed.
The partnership of Rio McGuinness and Gerard Sands has proven quietly powerful together as Dark Tropics, they’ve built a catalogue defined by mood and melody, with their debut album Ink littered with amazing tracks
Opening with “Spotlight” it was “Moroccan Sun” released in 2020 that really got the crowd engaged with its bouncing vibe and Rio’s light, unforced vocals making it impossible not to move at least some part of your body to its uplifting beat.
The setlist was packed with standout tracks, “I Bet You Can” “Dreaming “and “Keep Searching “a reminder of just how strong Dark Tropics’ catalogue has become. Earlier in the week, a fan online had asked what songs they planned to play. The band’s reply was simple: “Everything.” And true to their word, they delivered — weaving through their full repertoire with ease and confidence, leaving nothing behind.
Highlights of the night for me included “Midnight 10th of December,” “Escape,” and the hauntingly beautiful “It’s Later Than You Think,” each one revealing a different side of the band’s sound — from cinematic heartbreak to dancefloor stompers. Yet, to be fair, there wasn’t a single moment in the set that fell flat.
It wouldn’t be a real review without mentioning Rio McGuinness’s voice. It’s the kind that stops you in your tracks — expressive, unpredictable, and utterly captivating. The closest comparison might be somewhere between Kate Bush’s ethereal drama and Annie Lennox’s soulful command. Rio bends and shapes her vocals with such instinct that it feels less like performance and more like alchemy, turning emotion into sound.
As for Gerard Sands is there anything he can’t do piano, guitar and sing no wonder the chemistry between the two works so well, whether its poking fun at Gerards tuning or joking about not having a title for a song there is something truly magical about this pair.
They closed the night with their latest release, “Whispers,” a guitar-driven track that channels classic rock energy with a sleek, modern edge. It’s punchy yet polished — the kind of song that makes you feel free and unchained. As the final chords rang out, there was a sense of momentum in the room, as if Dark Tropics were already pointing toward whatever’s coming next, they have the stage presence the writing craft but more importantly they have a catalogue of songs bursting to be heard, one of the best bands I have seen this year #darktropicsmusic
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Support Act Martello
Opening for Dark Tropics was Martello described as artist who fuses acoustic-driven melodies with ambient electronic elements.
Kicking off his set with Beacon, it was Healer and Boat on the Water that truly revealed the depth of his artistry. His voice—warm and quietly commanding matched note for note by the delicacy of his guitar work. Each song felt soft and soulful, touched with a dreamlike intimacy that the crowd seemed to enjoy.
Martello by his own words is still new to this, with time and more exposure I feel we will be hearing a lot more from him.