Dea Matrona bring their Northern Irish flare to Cardiff
Photos: Chloe Michelle
Words: Ciaran Hiscox
★★★★★
The sold-out, rowdy crowd at Clwb Ifor Bach waited with nuclear tension for the Belfast duo Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn of Dea Matrona. They opened the set standing back to back as the Stevie Nicks–esque guitar line of ‘Red Button’ rang out, immediately pulling the audience into the performance.
From the very beginning, the band showcased tremendous energy and musical chemistry, supported by a warm and playful rapport with the crowd that lasted throughout the night. ‘Stuck On You’ followed, pushing the bass and guitar to the forefront and highlighting the strength of both the band and the songwriting. Shifting the tone, they introduced their new track ‘Hate That I Care’, a 90s-infused, dark romance song that quickly had the audience clapping along.
The genre blending continued with an acoustic, folk-like introduction that unfolded into a versatile soundscape. This led naturally into a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Oh Well’, which the crowd received enthusiastically. After sharing the band’s origin story and offering a few Celtic cultural insights, the upbeat opening of ‘Wilderness’ reignited the momentum. The track created a vivid sense of chase and urgency, as if the listener were running through the wilderness themselves.
‘Nobody’s Child’ offered a look back at one of their earliest songs from the EP, ‘Away From The Tide’. They then moved into their newest singles, including a seductive performance of ‘Magic Spell’, a song that felt perfectly suited to the atmosphere of Practical Magic.
Photo: Chloe Michelle
Another new track, ‘A Rebel Song’, arrived next. It captured the spirit of an Irish pub anthem but with a modern lift from heavier drums and guitars. A blues-inspired guitar riff then paved the way for the country-infused ‘So Damn Dangerous’, delivered with smooth instrumentation and vocals, before they shifted again into a cover of Nirvana’s ‘Love Buzz’.
‘My Own Party’ kept the energy high before transitioning into a lively and interactive performance of ‘Get My Mind Off’. Orláith and Mollie stepped into the crowd, dividing the audience into two teams. Each side competed to out-sing the other, creating one of the most memorable moments of the night.
With phone torches swaying, the band closed the main set with ‘Glory Glory (I Am Free)’. Their harmonies brought a tender, traditional Irish folk-country feel, a sound that could easily belong in an intimate Irish pub and transported the crowd there for a moment. After they left the stage, the audience immediately began chanting for one more song.
For the encore, they returned with ‘Stamp On It’, ending the night with a burst of energy. ending the night on a very energetic note. They truly saved the last night of the tour on UK soil, engaging the audience and sending the crowd home happy.