Hudson Taylor began their musical journey busking in the streets of their hometown in Dublin, Ireland which lead to the release of their debut album, Singing For Strangers, in 2015. And they have come a long way since then.
After a whirlwind of gigs, radio sessions, and meet n’ greets, the Irish folk-pop duo threw an album wrap party in Galway to promote their sophomore album, Loving Everywhere I Go, on March 5th, 2020.
They made a stop at OMG Galway where they played some material to a warm crowd gathering outside the store. In next to no time, they had their lyrics sung back to them. Before they finished up, they talked with the crowd about their album, a possible number one achievement in the Irish charts, all before announcing a free show at the Roisin Dubh later in the day.
Hudson Taylor took to the West End in Galway, performing a show at the Roisin Dubh for fans. They took to the stage with many cheers from the crowd working their way through their new material on their brand-new album, as well as throwing in some crowd favourites.
As they are authentic and original, they never fail to create feel-good music. There was a perfect mix of tracks from slow-paced songs moving along to faster upbeat tunes. The variety showcased the band’s versatility as songwriters and performers. They were impressed with strong vocals, amazing melodies, and an engaging stage presence.
With their sound centering on the guitar, they told the crowd when writing this new album they got bored songwriting solely on the guitar so they picked up the bodhrán. It broadened their sound more wholesomely, progressing rather than sticking to what they know.
They stripped back some of their songs performing without microphones, playing with just their guitars and voices. It worked out astonishingly well, especially when the room went delicately quiet before the crowd enthusiastically sang along.
After each track finished, the crowd’s applause was deafening until Hudson Taylor began another song. The silence of the room made it able to hear each musical beat and vocal which was breathtaking as everyone knew when to be quiet and to just focus on the art before them; this allowed the band to fully showcase their musical talents.
The show was energetic as they hyped the crowd up with folk anthems making everyone in the venue dance and sing-along. Everyone thrived on the atmosphere before leaving with grins. It was a moving show, and with the crowd’s response to the performance being that extra bit of oomph, the show was another memorable one for the band.
Hudson Taylor, as a band, is an interesting addition to current music. Their music allows the audience to make their own interpretation for each song. They poured their hearts into this show and it paid off. Their love for music was displayed throughout each track making the show a worthy attendance. There’s no greater feeling than experiencing a live show where the band loves their music and appreciates their fans. The intimate show was one to remember.
Words by Danielle Holian