Fontaines D.C. Exhibition Park, Newcastle (Sunday, July 13)
The formula for a memorable live show is often the same: great songs, a tight band, and a frontman who can bring the crowd to life. But Fontaines D.C. don’t just play their music and leave, they perform, making sure you leave with more than just tinnitus and a few blurry photos. On Sunday night, under the overcast skies of Exhibition Park, they gave a performance that was equal parts poetry, defiance, and raw humanity.
Exhibition Park is fast becoming one of the North East’s best festival locations. A 10-minute walk from Newcastle’s centre, it sits in this perfect middle ground between a city buzz and outdoor serenity. We kicked off the afternoon with pre-drinks at Dog and Parrot and Mosaic Tap. These bars aren’t just somewhere to sink a pint; they’re packed with other fans, artists, and staff who genuinely love music. That shared energy gives Newcastle something special, a feeling that everyone in the city is in on the night, whether they’re at the gig or not.
As for Fontaines D.C.? They came out swinging.
From the first song, the atmosphere was electric. But three tracks, in particular, didn’t just stand out, they landed.
- “I Love You” was transcendent. Its lyrics, tangled in love, politics, and frustration with modern Ireland, felt heavier live. The crowd fell into an almost complete silence during parts, letting lead singer Grian’s delivery carve its way through the park. It’s one of those songs that somehow gets more real the louder it gets, and Sunday night proved that.
- “Starburster” was chaos in the best way. The crowd completely erupted, amazing energy. It’s the kind of track that makes you forget where your feet are. Pure catharsis, fuelled by pounding rhythm and raw edge.
- But for me, the highlight of the set was “A Hero’s Death.” I’ve loved this song since the record dropped, but something about hearing that lyric “If we give ourselves to every breath, then we’re all in the running for a hero’s death” in a crowd of thousands? It landed differently. The song’s build from quiet defiance to pounding affirmation was nothing short of hypnotic, and incredibly catchy..
Fontaines D.C. have a visual identity as bold as their sound. The stage setup was moody, minimalist, and exact. Their signature fonts lit up across banners and backdrops, paired with stark, purposeful colours that shifted with the emotion of each track. You could tell every detail had been thought through, not to distract from the music, but to pull you deeper into it.
English Teacher
I’ve covered these before after their Boiler Shop show, and they keep proving they belong on these stages. Their set was sharp, smart, and full of that cool, confident presence they’re becoming known for. With another Boiler Shop gig lined up later this year, this is a band you do not want to miss.
Newcastle remains a city built on shared culture and sound, and Sunday night felt like a celebration of that. It’s hard to say whether it was the lyrics, the energy, or the setting that hit the hardest, but I know this much: I’ll be thinking about that line from A Hero’s Death for a long time to come.
Song Recommendations
🎧 I Love You
🎧 Starburster
🎧 A Hero’s Death
Catch them live, and while you’re at it, catch English Teacher too. You won’t regret it!