Dry Cleaning Live at Vicar Street

Dry Cleaning are one of the most exciting bands going right now. Florence Shaw’s deadpan spoken-word vocals over Tom Dowse’s jagged guitar lines shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. They’re playing Vicar Street on the back of their new album Secret Love, and this is a gig for anyone who likes their music sharp, smart, and slightly unhinged.

What to Expect

Secret Love was recorded across sessions in Jeff Tweedy’s Chicago studio, with Gilla Band’s Alan Duggan and Daniel Fox in Dublin’s Sonic Studios, and with Cate Le Bon in France. That pedigree tells you everything about where this band sits - at the intersection of art rock, post-punk, and something entirely their own.

Live, Dry Cleaning are mesmerising. Shaw delivers her lyrics - part poetry, part overheard conversation, part fever dream - with a detached cool that draws you in completely. The rhythm section locks in hard, Dowse’s guitar is all angles and texture, and the whole thing has an energy that’s both cerebral and visceral. They’ve headlined Brixton Academy and the Wiltern in LA on this tour. Vicar Street is going to be brilliant.

This Dublin show is part of an Irish run that also includes Dolan’s in Limerick the following night.

Good to Know

• Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm
• Over 18s only, ID required
• Vicar Street holds 1,050 seated or 1,500 standing
• Also playing Dolan’s Limerick on April 18th if Dublin sells out
• Box office opens one hour before showtime

Getting There

Vicar Street is on Thomas Street in the Liberties. The Luas Red Line stops at Smithfield and Four Courts, both about a 10-minute walk. Dublin Bus routes 13, 40, 123, and 27 all pass nearby. A 10-minute walk from Christ Church Cathedral.