Last night’s show was the kind that cuts through the noise of a long week. The second I stepped into the venue, the energy was already buzzing. The floor was packed early, wall to wall with people who didn’t just come to stand around. Everyone was dressed with intention, some in Orla Gartland merch, some mimicking outfits from her album covers and music videos, and others just looking seriously good. This wasn’t a crowd waiting to be convinced. They already knew the night was going to be something special.
The opener, Fightmaster, came out with a stripped-down setup, just the lead singer and someone accompanying them. No flashing visuals, no frills. Just the music. And it worked. They stood in the spotlight like they owned it, and from the first note, the crowd was fully locked in. I’m not kidding when I say almost everyone around me was singing along to every word, not just the chorus. Every single song. That kind of connection doesn’t happen unless the music has really hit home. They played around eight songs and every single one landed. The lighting stayed mostly in blue and orange tones, giving the set a kind of hazy, dreamlike feel.. warm, moody, cinematic. It didn’t feel like an opening act. It felt like a full show on its own.
Then Orla Gartland came out and the whole place erupted. The second she stepped onstage, people screamed, cheered, threw their hands in the air. But it wasn’t just the volume. You could actually feel something shift. She jumped right into a high-energy song, dancing across the stage like she’d been waiting all day to let loose. There was no slow build. She gave us everything, right from the start. She leaned into the crowd, pointed at people, laughed mid-verse, and somehow kept the momentum going without ever looking tired. There’s this thing she does - a mix of complete chaos and total control - that makes you want to watch her every move, and she didn’t just sing, she performed.
At one point, she grabbed a pair of drumsticks and joined in on percussion. At another, she picked up a guitar and played through a few songs solo. There were moments where she danced around like she was alone in her room, and others where she stood completely still and let her voice do everything. Even though I had never listened to her before that night, I found myself completely pulled in. I didn’t need to know the words. I could feel what she meant.
The lighting was just as vibrant as her set - flashing in bold, shifting colors that moved with the music instead of distracting from it. Nothing felt random. Everything was intentional. The tech side of the show matched her energy perfectly, which honestly doesn’t always happen. It made the performance feel even bigger. By the last song, the place was loud in that kind of chaotic, beautiful way where everyone’s fully lost in it. People were jumping, crying, hugging their friends. And it didn’t feel dramatic or performative. It felt real. Like we all understood that we were part of something that only existed for that night. There’s a kind of magic in that — being surrounded by strangers who are all screaming the same lyrics, feeling the same beat, being completely in the moment.
I walked in expecting to take photos. I walked out a fan. Orla Gartland doesn’t need massive stage effects or theatrical stunts. What makes her unforgettable is how real she is. Her presence, her voice, the way she moves, it all draws you in without even trying. She’s the kind of artist who doesn’t demand your attention, but completely earns it.
If she’s coming to your city, go. Even if you’ve never heard her music, even if you think you’ll just go for fun. I promise you’ll leave knowing you witnessed something special.
