JOE headed along to the Red Bull Bedroom Jam final to check out the acts live on stage, and see who would be crowned winner
The Red Bull Bedroom Jam final took place in Whelan’s last night, and after all the bands took to the stage with fantastic sets, the judges were left with a pretty tough decision to make. We’ve interviewed and heard from the three finalists in JOE towers, and we have to say we couldn’t pick a favourite, so it was a very difficult call for the panel.
Aces Wild took to the stage first, and their substantial following were going suitably wild for the show when they kicked off.
They might be young, but they took to the stage like naturals, and gave us a high energy set that had Whelans rocking right from start to finish.
When they struck up their last song, the up-tempo ‘Kids on Bikes with Flashing Lights’, the crowd ramped it up even further, and gave it their everything for the final tune.
They were followed by the equally fantastic Touchwood, and while one band cleared the stage and the others set up, groups of fans exchanged chants of “Aces Wild” and “Touch-wood” during the break.
The lads from Wexford looked every inch the rock stars (despite not having the crew of roadies yet), and their fans in the crowd knew every word, but when they played a new song ‘A Million Miles Away’, they hit the perfect note with the crowd, dedicating the song to anyone who has had their friends leave the country in search of greener grass during these tough times.
They closed with the anthemic ‘Elysian Plains’, and their fantastic harmonies were a real pleasure to listen to live.
The final act of the night, Corner Boy, took to the stage with an unconventional set of instruments, including a double bass, a resonator guitar and a banjo, as well as a violin, which gave their set a very distinct feel.
They kicked off with ‘Sunlight’, a real foot-stomper that had the crowd in raptures from the off, and their whole set showed both their up-tempo and softer sides.
Perhaps it was this that gave them the edge in the end, as they were named the winners of the Red Bull Bedroom Jam after a lot of deliberation from the judges, who had a very tough decision indeed to make.
To say that the lads and ladies of Corner Boy were happy to win is a bit of an understatement, but all of the bands who made it to the final last night are sure to have bright futures, if the crowd’s reactions last night were anything to go by, as well as having a great platform from the Red Bull Bedroom Jam to build on as a result.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
