Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NTS UGH GE
et) vocal. All ented alongside le, singable ks in consistently emic choruses. SOAK before her, e stories are fully presented he whole package ging that – on night – she to get several people – most of whom had no idea who she was – to just stop what they were doing – and listen. Intently. With a smile on their face.
“I wouldn’t have been able to handle this” says Gary, as we get primed to watch ROE perform her half hour set, from the side of an enormous stage. “Yet she’s done it with such grace – and humour. She’s just such an extraordinary women, she’s killing it every single night. She has a flawless, flowing set of songs.”
Over the years, Gary has made it his mission to have only the best new Northern Ireland acts open for Snow
Patrol, instantly exposing them to thousands of potential new fans. The likes of SOAK, Two Door Cinema Club, Cashier No 9, Brand New Friend and Ryan Mcmullan have all enjoyed – or will enjoy – huge success, at least partially thanks to the boost that comes with playing alongside the most successful Northern Irish band in history. In the case of ROE, Gary saw her at the NI Music Prize in November – and helped put everything in place so she could play Snow Patrol’s UK tour, which started back in December. So it was hardly a punt or a stab in the dark – he knew she wouldn’t let him down.
It’s fair to suggest ROE herself may not have been quite as confident.
‘I was terrified before the tour started, overthinking everything. But whenever I got up on that stage in Newcastle for the first show back in December – it just felt like another gig, because the audience were so supportive.”
I witnessed that supportive audience on Saturday night. Granted, the average Snow Patrol fan isn’t the type to throw missiles at a support act they don’t happen to like (honestly, that’s something I’ve seen happen), but still. Truth is, they were supportive for one reason only – because ROE is an incredible performer. This young, tiny figure, onstage with no help, surrounded by technology, hammering drum pads one moment, strumming the next, controlling a heap of technology to create something wonderful – it’s a sight to behold. And when she wasn’t doing that, the between song patter framed Roisin as the most likeable young woman on the planet, humble and grateful – yet full of belief in what she’s doing. You find yourself rooting for her.
“I never ever in my wildest dreams thought this could happen” she explains, coming off stage after what she reckons was the best show of the tour. “I don’t know how I’m going to come down from this.”
Thing is, I’m not sure she’ll have to. After all, this is just the beginning. at the NI Music Prize
Still dining out on doing the double and creators of the ‘Best (which is only right) the ‘Best Live Act’ visit all corners of the Album’ are making it their mission to
- alongside a little chaos. country, spreading the good word
City - certainly live The Wood Burning Savages - from Derry explosive live shows, up to the hype, with a reputation for incendiary brand of during which they take their already debut record ’Stability’, outspoken punk rock we enjoyed on notches. They play the and turn everything up a couple of
Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, tonight.