BIFFY CLYRO, The Empire and Lavery’s, Belfast
At around 7.20pm on Arthur’s Day, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro ended a week’s worth of rumours and wild speculation when they stepped out onto the cosy stage in the Empire, Belfast.
Performing a stripped back, semi-acoustic set, the trio treated fans to some stunning versions of the likes of ‘God And Satan’ and ‘Black Chandelier’, and the enthusiastic crowd responded by singing every word and welcoming them like homecoming heroes.
Later that night, the boys (who got into the spirit of things by hiding tickets for their show around the city earlier that day) also performed an electric set in Lavery’s. Headlining a bill which included Girl Band and Le Galaxie, Biffy turned the amps up to 11 and put on a rock masterclass, with ‘Bubbles’, ‘That Golden Rule’ and more all living up to their promise to Hot Press two weeks ago that they would shake the venue’s foundations.
Taking to Twitter after the show, the group gushed: “Thanks for a very memorable and intense experience. I think the crowd almost went through the floor.” And the roof...

The Script, Whelan’s, Dublin
The Script’s huge Irish fan base was well in evidence when Dave Fanning introduced them as the night’s main mystery act. Having finished a set merely an hour beforehand in the unusual location of The Ivy House in Drumcondra, the three-piece bounded onto the stage at approximately 9.30pm to a chorus of deafening roars.
The audience had been well warmed up already by impressively energetic performances from Australian hip-hop sensation Iggy Azalea, who delighted everyone with tracks from her forthcoming debut album The New Classic, and a one-man beat machine in the form of Nottingham’s The Petebox. But The Script took things to another level, wowing the crowd with a glittering set culled from their global three chart-busting long-players.
It was a rare treat to see the band in such an intimate setting. Debut single ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ went down especially well, with the packed audience singing along with great gusto. The Dublin outfit know how to interact with an audience. Lead singer Danny O’Donoghue is especially talkative, raising issues like the recession and emigration. The mood, however, remained buoyant as three pints of Guinness were crowd-surfed onto the stage to the thirsty trio.
Finishing on a high with hit single ‘Hall of Fame’, Danny expressed the band’s complete support of Arthur’s Day and the platform the Arthur Guinness Projects is creating for otherwise neglected Irish musical talent.

Bouts and Emelie Sande, Dakota, Dublin
Fresh from recording debut album Nothing Good Gets Away, Dublin four-piece Bouts showcased their own brand of self-described ‘pop grunge indie guitar loudness’. Highlights included new single ‘6.0’ and ‘We Tried’, with guitarist Barry Bracken taking the opportunity to throw himself head first into the audience at the end of their performance.
Recent Hot Press cover star Emeli Sandé received a real warm Dublin welcome at Dakota. Opening with ‘Heaven’, her powerful vocals cut through the packed venue, which had revellers climbing on tables and chairs to secure a better vantage point. The hit-filled set included such tracks as ‘Read All About It’ and ‘Beneath You’re Beautiful’, both gorgeously performed and rapturously received.