Fontaines D.C.

Finsbury Park again hosted a significant day of live music, with an Irish flavour including the controversial Kneecap and headline act Fontaines D.C..

The early proceedings saw Blondshell, the American indie rock act fronted by Sabrina Mae Teitelbaum, take the stage. Her laid-back delivery found appreciation among a segment of the audience, though the most of the crowd wanted something more.

The energy within the park noticeably shifted with the arrival of Irish rap trio Kneecap. Their set drew a significantly larger audience, a pattern consistent with their recent appearances, including a notable performance at Glastonbury I was also happy to witness. The group are in contsant banter mode, Naoise Ó Cairealláin wearing a blue Oasis football shirt, leading chants of "F**k Kier Starmer. "They can try and stop us but as long as genocide is happening we'll keep talking about it the frontman stated to the clear delight of the crowd." A highlight for many was the appearance of Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten, who joined Kneecap for a worthy rendition of "Better Way To Live, further enthusing the crowd."

Following Kneecap, Amyl and the Sniffers delivered a high-octane performance. Frontwoman Amyl, dressed in a yellow bikini, exhibited trademark energy, pacing the stage, jumping, and head-banging throughout. Guitar-driven tracks, including the new single "Doing In Me Head," proving to be a hit here, the band's raw, unfiltered energy certainly contributing to a charged atmosphere.

As the evening progressed, Fontaines D.C. made their entrance to the intro track "Starburster / In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator song)," before launching into "Here's the Thing." The capacity crowd immediately engaged, singing along with palpable enthusiasm. Wearing a kilt Grian Chatten then led the band into "Jackie Down the Line," before "Boys in the Better Land" completed a mouth-watering opening trio of songs.

The well-worked setlist followed including the driving rhythm of "Televised Mind" and recent single "It's Amazing to Be Young." Fan favourites like "A Hero's Death" and "Big" also resonated with the audience, who remained in full voice throughout. The band dedicated "Horseness Is the Whatness" to Carlos's daughter and wife, and "Favourite" to Grian's fiancée, Georgie Jesson. The tour debut of "Liberty Belle" was also a popular addition.

For the encore, Fontaines D.C. returned with "Romance," followed by "In the Modern World." The intensity continued into "I Love You" before the night concluded with a powerful rendition of "Starburster," leaving the Finsbury Park audience with another memorable live experience from a band that continue to offer up a strong and celebrated body of work.

Fontaines D.C. Setlist
Starburster / In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator song)
Here's the Thing
Jackie Down the Line
Boys in the Better Land
Televised Mind
Roman Holiday
It's Amazing to Be Young
Big Shot
Death Kink
A Hero's Death
Before You I Just Forget
Motorcycle Boy
Horseness Is the Whatness (Dedicated to Carlos’ daughter and Wife)
Big
Bug
Hurricane Laughter
Nabokov
Desire
Favourite (Dedicated to Georgie Jesson, Grians' Fiancé)
Liberty Belle

Encore:
Romance
In the Modern World
I Love You
Starburster

Amyl and the Sniffers Setlist
Security
Doing in Me Head
Freaks to the Front
Do It Do It
Chewing Gum
Knifey
Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled) (dedicated to Bob Vylan.)
Big Dreams
Got You
Guided by Angels
Me and The Girls
Jerkin'
Tiny Bikini
U Should Not Be Doing That
Hertz

Kneecap Setlist
3CAG
It's Been Ages
Sick in the Head
Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite
Sayonara (New song)
Better Way to Live (with Grian Chatten)
I'm Flush
I bhFiacha Linne
Fine Art
Rhino Ket
Guilty Conscience
Get Your Brits Out
H.O.O.D
THE RECAP