Photo Credit: Peter Eason Daniels

Since 2020, Irish indie rockers NEWDAD have quietly built a reputation for crafting hazy, indulgent shoegaze that lingers. But at XOYO in Birmingham, that quiet energy became something electric. Touring their second album Altar, the Galway trio proved why they’ve become one of Ireland’s most exciting exports, filling the 800-capacity room with a mix of gritty guitars and heavy emotion. 

Support came from fellow Irish rising stars CARDINALS, a six-piece from Cork who looked every bit the part of the next big Irish band. Strolling out in black sunglasses, the lads carried a moody, cinematic cool which matched every note of their indie rock sound. Their opener ‘Twist and Turn’ immediately got the crowd onside, leaving no doubt about their talent. The band carried pure nonchalance as they powered through their impressive set, with an accordion adding unexpected depth and lifting the songs beyond the usual guitar-driven haze. With a new single ‘The Burning of the Cork’ just released and an album on the horizon for 2026, CARDINALS have all the hallmarks of a band ready to break through.

By the time the support set ended, the room was buzzing, fully primed for NEWDAD. The lights dimmed and Julie Dawson took the stage alone for the opening verse of ‘Other Side’, her vocals cutting through the quiet before Sean O’Dowd, Fiachra Parslow, and the rest of the band joined in. ‘Heavyweight’ followed, another highlight from Altar, before ‘Entertainer’ picked up the pace, Dawson smiling as she thanked the crowd for coming to their biggest Birmingham headline yet. Despite the grungy edges of their music, her warmth and charm between songs made the set feel both intimate and approachable.

The set pulled from across their catalogue. ‘Sickly Sweet’ invited crowd participation, while ‘Let Go’ revealed the band’s heavier side, Dawson’s voice slicing cleanly through the distortion. A spontaneous “happy birthday” for Parslow brought a brief moment of levity before the band moved into ‘Puzzle’ and ‘Everything I Wanted’, the latter greeted with one of the loudest cheers of the night. 

As the set continued, Dawson quipped that ‘Mr Cold Embrace’ would bring the mood down yet it wasn’t long before the crowd surged once again.  Fan favourites Blue and Misery hit next, sending the room into a surge of cheers and singalongs. ‘Sinking Kind of Feeling’ followed, before the band slipped off stage briefly, as the crowd remained cemented to their spots, hoping the night wasn’t over just yet.

Returning for their encore, NEWDAD slipped straight back into the gritty rhythm that filled the night. ‘Angel’ turned XOYO into a full-room singalong, Dawson stepping back as the crowd carried the chorus. They closed with ‘Roboosh’, the heaviest, loudest track of the night, leaving ears ringing, and the audience completely spent.

NEWDAD might trade in dreamy, melancholic guitars on record, but live they are precise, confident, and in complete control. Dawson’s charm between songs made the intensity feel intimate, while the trio’s sheer force reminded everyone why they are one of Ireland’s most exciting acts. XOYO may hold only 800, but on this October night, NEWDAD made it feel enormous.