Gareth Dunlop rolls through Manchester to serenade the rainy city. The Northern Irish artist comes with bags of charm and brilliant songs.

SONGS FOR THE STARS

Gareth Dunlop may not be a household name like some other troubadours however his songs have found themselves in some very high places.

By his own admission, he is a pop singer/songwriter and producer. His songs have found themselves in hit shows like Nashville, Lucifer, This Is Us and Suits. You can also count Hollywood films Safe Haven and The Best Of Me as homes for some of his songs.

Having recently released a stripped back live take of his 2024 record, Live From The House Of I Don’t Know showcases the talent Dunlop has.

THE PINK ROOM

The Pink Room at YES is just that. Bring your sunglasses if the colour offends you! As Dunlop creeps onstage with Pete Wallace, his musical partner, the pair open with Every Little Inch. The harmonics from Wallace add the backdrop to Dunlop’s acoustics and voice. It is a lovely opening.

Dunlop regales the crowd with the tale of their day that has been blighted by an M6 breakdown. Once vibrating snare drum issues are rectified, the pair deliver Devil Like You. By Dunlop’s own admission, it is a song that helped keep the lights on as it was used as the theme song to TV show Lucifer.

HEARTFELT SONGS

Songs written for his children are both preceded with tales of parenthood. In dedicating Go Down Swinging to his 11 year old daughter, he talks of the conflict of what the future would hold if you had a boy or a girl. The song is a rousing piece that still has its ‘oomph’ despite not having the full band backing.

Small Talk reflects Dunlop’s social anxiety. It is a tender piece that sees Dunlop on the piano. Before the track, he mentions his strong accent and how it can turn the most tender of songs into a threat. It makes the set wholly enjoyable; the self deprecating humour and passionate songs make for a great mix. Gareth Dunlop draws comparisons with Tom Waits and Paul Brady; but there are hints of artists like Ray Lamontagne and fellow Northern Irishman, Matt McGinn.

Gareth Dunlop will be heading out on tour again in November. This time it will be with a full band and in Manchester, he will be playing Gullivers. Tickets are available now, here.

Check out Every Little Inch, Live from The House Of I Don’t Know, below.

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