Live Report: Night one of The Road To The Great Escape with Kay Young, Dréya Mac and Sainte at the Academy 2

Dublin was overflowing with musical talent on Monday night, as performers filled clubs around the city to participate in The Road To The Great Escape — a two night festival showcasing some of the best up and coming talent the music scene has to offer.

In the Academy 2, the low-ceilinged, intimate space that crouches beneath the main rooms of the Academy upstairs, the energy in the room was palpable as concert goers filed into the purple-hued space. With the stage at nearly ground-level, it felt almost like a house-show, the room fostering a closeness that made it seem as if the artists were playing from amongst the audience.

The night kicked off with Kay Young, who delivered a stripped back set that showcased her soaring vocals and poetic lyricism. For an artist like Young, whose songs foster an innate sense of connection, this type of format made perfect sense. Just her and her drummer onstage, the steady beat and strong vocals filled every corner of the small space.

Kay Young at The Academy for The Road To The Great Escape. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

From poignant, melodic tracks the likes of 'Giving Thanks' to the laid-back syncopated beats of 'White Teeth,' Young brought an indelible energy that amplified the set, getting everyone grooving along to her patented chill hip-hop sound. Paired with with Henry the drummer, the live setting allowed Young's lyricism and vocal talents to shine through — unobscured by production, you could hear her rich, climbing voice on full display.

Next up was Dréya Mac — the West London native who is one of the fastest rising names in the UK rap scene. From the start, it was clear this was a performer who above all loved to perform; grinning, dancing and laughing along with the crowd, she brought an infectious energy that fused with her incredible talent to create something uniquely wonderful.

Dreya Mac at The Academy for The Road To The Great Escape. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Due to the closeness of event, the rapper was able to talk to the audience, climb on the barricade and move around the small stage, delivering her hyped-up hip hop sound perfectly against the unconventional backdrop. Giving impeccable performances of both her deeper cuts and viral TikTok song 'Own Brand Freestyle,' Dréya Mac is a performer everyone should put on their to-see list.

Sainte at The Academy for The Road To The Great Escape. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Finishing off the night was Sainte, who infused his performance with a sense of electricity that was infectious to the crowd. Playing a variety of songs off of both his debut 2021 EP, Local Mvp and album Out the Blue, it was clear that this was his audience — people were dancing, rapping and singing the lyrics straight back to him onstage.

With hits the likes of 'Round & Round' and 'Champagne Shots,' Sainte took the tight production and fast-paced lyricism and translated them perfectly into the live format, rapping in step with the DJ to give an impressively high-energy show. A fantastic way to finish off a fantastic night, Sainte brought his all to the Academy 2 — and fans paid it right back with endless clapping and cheers.

All three performers lit up the Academy Monday night, delivering incredible performances of their UK-tinged hip hop sounds to the space. Whether it was Kay Young's endless positivity or Dréya Mac's dance breaks, there was no shortage of good energy — marking a wildly successful first night of The Road To The Great Escape.