LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: NEWDAD AT THE O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN, LONDON 28/10/25
In the heart of London, the O2 Forum Kentish Town became a sanctuary for alternative music as Irish alt-rock trio NewDad brought their Altar tour to the city. The evening, rich with raw talent, opened with an impressive set from Cardinals - a five-piece also hailing from Ireland - whose distinctive sound and energy perfectly set the tone for NewDad’s biggest London headline show to date.
Starting off early, the quintet from Cork delivered a compelling mixture of indie rock swagger, folk‑touched textures and alternative rock that won over the room with simplicity and authenticity, suitably warming the crowd early on.
NewDad vocalist and frontwoman Julie Dawson walked onto the stage alone moments later, the lights low and the room holding its breath. She began ‘Other Side’ by herself, visibly moved at the sight of one of the band’s largest crowds yet. For a fleeting second, it seemed she was singing only to herself, before Sean O’Dowd (guitar), Fiachra Parslow (drums), and the rest of the rhythm section joined her to perform the remaining of the song together.
From there, the band moved seamlessly into ‘Heavyweight’ and ‘Entertainer’, balancing their trademark dream-pop with heavier alt-rock textures, their sound thriving in a live setting. The set leaned heavily into their latest record, Altar, with all but one track (‘Vertigo’) performed. Yet long-time fans were rewarded with selections from their breakthrough album Mantra with the fan favourite ‘Sickly Sweet‘ and ‘Nightmares’, and one of their earliest songs, ‘Blue’ (2020), blending the past and present.
Their new album Altar is both a love letter to Galway and an exploration of the emotional cost of leaving it behind, and this was felt through during the performance. The song ‘Pretty’ carried a soft sadness that had the crowd swaying from side to side, tackling themes of homesickness and healing, while ‘Everything I Wanted’ confronted self-doubt with resilience, staying true to the spirit of alternative rock. ‘Misery’, introduced with a playful warning by Dawson - “This one’s a bit freaky” - plunged the audience into heavier rock tone, getting the audience moving.
Julie Dawson’s voice is the heart of the band: clear and beautiful, sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp and haunting, especially when her lyrics hint at the darker feelings beneath the dreamy sound. The rhythm section however matched this contrast beautifully: soft guitars and dreamy shoegaze sounds balanced with moments of punchy energy and strong rhythmic drive, creating the ideal backdrop for their introspective songs.
The band’s performance was largely without words: interaction was minimal, leaving the music to speak for itself. Yet moments of connection shone through: the singalong during ‘Let Go’, the headbanging that erupted spontaneously, and Dawson moving into the crowd for the fan favourite ‘Angel’, reaching out to the front row with a mix of gratitude and intimacy. When she finally paused to address the audience before the last song, her simple words carried more weight than any extended speech: “Thank you for buying a ticket for this show, thank you for supporting us, just thank you.” before closing the night with the beloved ‘Roobosh’, another cathartic release from the band and one of their rockier tracks, sending the crowd off on a high note.
At the O2 Forum Kentish Town, the crowd was treated to a celebration of Irish artistry in its most compelling form. From the support act Cardinals to the headliner NewDad, the evening showcased the emotional depth, raw energy, and honesty that define Ireland’s alternative music scene, a reminder that NewDad and many other of its artists continue to leave a lasting mark far beyond their homeland.
Words and photos by Florelle Servageon.
Full setlist below:
Other Side
Heavyweight
Entertainer
Sickly Sweet
Pretty
Nightmares
Something’s Broken
Let Go
Puzzle
Everything I Wanted
Mr Cold Embrace
Blue
Misery
Sinking Kind of Feeling
Angel
Roobosh
