Caitlin ConnorsOn the first day of May, The Stunning arrived to the Galway town of Oranmore ready to give an unforgettable performance for 3,800 people in the West of Ireland. And that they did. At times the weather felt like it was brewing up a storm but The Stunning opened Momentum Music Festival with so much vigour and energy that the audience felt transported back to the 1980s/90s.
Building Momentum
The newest event in the Irish music calendar has been launched by new kids on the block, BC Ventures. They are led by promoters Cian Burke and Trevor Cullinane, and supported by Commercial Director Olivia Breene.
A nice touch was that all the business within the festival were local. This was an overarching theme for the festival, bringing together brilliant Irish artists for the bank holiday.
Before the main act, openers,Tracy Bruen and The Riptide Movement came out to get the crowd going. Which was not an easy feat so early on in the night. Tracy Bruen brought her classic indie set to the stage. Each song had a rich story behind it with even one or two unreleased being played.
The Riptide Movement took to the stage next. They performed their classic guitar riffs and solos. With a more rock feel to the music, they continued to build momentum (pardon the pun!) and anticipation for what was to come.
Heads Did Roll
As someone who had only heard of The Stunning because of their parents, I was unsure of what to expect. Especially given, they are from an older generation. Yet just like a fine wine The Stunning’s music has aged in a timeless manner as well as their performing.
From certified hits like “Half Past Two” to political anthems like “Stand Up In This Wicked World”, the band had something for everyone. A personal favourite moment of mine occurred during “Heads Are Gonna Roll”. The song featured an incredible bongo solo that was unexpected but intoxicating to hear live.
Surprise: Sharon Shannon
However, it was decided by the crowd that the highlight of the night came from the surprise special appearance from Sharon Shannon.
“All the bands brought that extra little magic to Oranmore at the weekend. Sharon Shannon joining The Stunning on opening night was a genuine wow moment,”said Commercial Director, Olivia Breene.
From there they played five songs together. By doing so, setting an exciting tone for the rest of the festival to come.
A poignant moment came when Steve Wall of The Stunning played a special tribute to the promoters dear friend the late Brian Bermingham. He was one of the minds behind this initial concept of creating a concert series which developed over the past several years. A truly special moment that was the perfect way to end the set for the first night.
Stepping Back in Time
Both Momentum Festival and The Stunning created an ambience reflective of the past. They allowed the crowd to be transported back to a time of enjoyment rather than documentation that we find ourselves in today. It was what I imagined going to a concert twenty to thirty years ago felt like with the absence of constant filming. Instead this was replaced by concert etiquette and a fuel to enjoy the here and now.
That makes the announcement that this festival is here to stay all the more sweeter. It is one festival to keep marked on the calendars for 2027 and hopefully for more years to come.
“Momentum 2026 was a dream made real. It was a big move for us and seeing thousands of people flood through the gates of Oranmore made it all worthwhile! Watching the crowd’s faces as the music played is something we’ll never forget,”
Co-Festival Directors Cian Burke & Trevor Cullinane of BC Ventures.
With the organisers adding “We’re excited to bring someone very unique and different to the market in the coming weeks — watch this space. Momentum is rising and we look forward to what’s next. We have set the bar and we look forward to continuing to create moments that matter.”
