James Keegan’s Set One of Our Night And Day Favs
By From Soft Ballads to Big Moments — He Had Range
Music festivals are more than just a weekend escape; they’re a pilgrimage. A chance to wander from stage to stage, ears wide open, chasing the thrill of discovering a voice, a sound, a moment you didn’t know you needed. The Night and Day Festival delivers this in abundance. It’s not just a showcase of established talent—it’s a treasure trove of hidden gems and rising stars. With every set, there’s the exhilarating possibility of stumbling across your next musical obsession.
James Keegan is a name that won’t be slipping from my memory any time soon. There was something quietly electrifying about his presence on the Luna Stage—his soulful voice weaving effortlessly through the early evening air, wrapping itself around the crowd like an old, familiar song. But it wasn’t just the music that held us there, swaying and wide-eyed. It was him. Between songs, Keegan’s easy charm spilled into the space between the notes. His banter wasn’t just witty—it was disarmingly intimate, as if he were catching up with a room full of old friends rather than a festival crowd.
Keegan’s set was nothing short of magnetic, it didn’t just unfold, it unleashed. He opened with Devil in Me, a brooding, pulse-quickening number that immediately locked the crowd into his rhythm. Without missing a beat, he drove straight into Take Me Away and Rise of Murder, each song building the momentum.
And just when it seemed like Keegan had shown every card in his deck, he pulled out one more surprise—Feeling Gray, his latest release, and a clear standout of the day. With a sly grin and a flick of his pick, he shifted the tone and launched into a toe-tapping, folk-tinged rock groove that rolled out like a wave across the crowd. The rhythm was irresistible—steady and pulsing, with that golden, sun-soaked guitar tone that felt equal parts nostalgic and fresh.
Closing with Take Me Home, a fitting choice for a final track, the irony wasn’t lost on anyone, as the opening chords drifted out over the crowd, it was clear that no one was in a hurry to leave. The song carried a gentle weight, full of yearning and warmth, wrapping up the performance with a sense of quiet finality.
James Keegan has something very, very special, can’t wait to see him live again!