Maria Somerville ignited The Button Factory in Dublin on Friday, supported by opening act Olan Monk.

Walking on stage with a shiny white electric guitar, I was instantly met with Monk’s deep, bellowing voice. Their music felt dark and foreboding, creating an air of mystery that hung heavy in the crowd. Intense bass rattled the venue, as shining white lights poured down over the audience.

“Thank you,” they said. “Thanks again to Maria… for having me these last four days. It’s been great to try out a lot of new stuff.”

At one point, Monk swapped their crunchy, distorted guitar for a tin whistle. The instrument paired beautifully with their bassy backing track, adding a dynamic element to the already enticing song.

‘Surf’ was a clear stand-out, swelling into a crescendo of guitar and bass. Monk’s powerful voice complimented the instrumentals expertly, capturing me with every note.

Olan Monk supporting Maria Somerville at The Button Factory on April 18th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

By the time Somerville arrived, the stage was already bathed in a thick fog. Her enigmatic presence was made all the more mysterious by the intensely dark lighting, making it so I didn’t see the singer's face once during her full set.

Her thick, sultry vocals reminded me of Angel Olsen, filling the darkened room with a sense of warmth. With each song, her bassist would start off tame before erupting into a wonderful explosion of sound. Somerville’s drummer stood out most of all; frequently, he’d rub his drum sticks long-ways against his cymbal like a violin, creating an eerie, droning sound.

‘Spring’ off her upcoming album Luster was a particularly exciting track. It followed a similar format to her other songs– opening with delicate vocals and stripped-back instrumentals, before gradually expanding into a celebration of bass and guitar.

“Thank you so much, it’s so nice to be here,” she told the crowd. “Thanks so much to all of you.”

Maria Somerville at The Button Factory on April 18th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

Though her voice was shy, it excelled each time she gripped the mic to sing. Every song blended smoothly into the last, creating a dreamy, atmospheric energy. ‘Garden’ opened with overwhelming bass, clinging tightly to her vocals like a thick wave of sound. Frequently, I found myself closing my eyes to absorb the music, lost in the sonic landscape. Booming drums complemented the track beautifully, generating a moody air.

“I really appreciate just being here,” she said. “It’s really nice.”

Somerville’s final track, ‘All My People,’ truly blew me away. Off her 2019 debut album of the same name, the song opened once again with simple instrumentals and eerie, delicate vocals. The extended, live version of the song lasted about 10 minutes, and was certainly not shy in its use of bass. Once again I closed my eyes, sinking deeper and deeper into the music. When the song came to an end I felt an aching absence in the room, once filled with Somerville’s atmospheric sound.

Despite being completely out of sight, the artist maintained a powerful presence on stage that won’t soon be forgotten.

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