Artists: Kira Mac
Venue: Manchester, The Academy 3
Date: 26th April 2024
"The opening ‘Save Your Whiskey’ was full of energy and it was great to see the room packed, highlighting just how popular Kira Mac’s music and stage shows have become ..."
During the last twenty-four months, I have crossed paths with Kira Mac many times, at numerous different venues and in several different UK locations. On the first few occasions there was no recorded output to the band’s name, but there was an album’s worth of material (and one or two covers) to draw from. 2024 will (hopefully) see the release of a sophomore batch of songs, but in the meantime, there was the small matter of another UK headline tour.
Recently there have been changes to the Kira Mac line-up and the band now operate as a quartet. It is testament to the musical ethic that this has seen no change to the performing mantra. The opening ‘Save Your Whiskey’ was full of energy and it was great to see the room packed, highlighting just how popular Kira Mac’s music and stage shows have become, honed through countless tours and time together on the road. ‘Dead Man Walking’ and the ‘Chaos Is Calling’ title track followed in quick succession, and when I returned to the bar at the rear, after my three-song stint in the photo pit, everyone, front to back, was basking in the Kira Mac glow.
‘Play The Game’ and ‘No Way Out’ may have been unfamiliar to some, yet they resonated like old friends and could be second album highlights. Rhiannon Kira Hill took to the stage with an acoustic guitar for a spellbinding run through Justin Timberlake’s ‘Say Something’, before being joined by Joe Worrall for some more stripped back favourites, showcasing Hill’s incredible voice and Worrall’s six-string dexterity. It was by no means a breather as the energy levels never dipped. When the whole band were back together, we were treated to debut album favourites ‘Hit Me Again’, ‘Hell Fire And Holy Water’, ‘Never Going To Stay’ and ‘Mississippi Swingin’’. ‘Downfall’ and ‘One Way Ticket’ brought things to a close and then it was time for a quick catch-up at the merchandise stand, before heading home.
The new(er) songs performed bode well for the next album and should see the Kira Mac star rise even higher. The band’s first headline show in Manchester was a triumph and it is only a matter of time before even bigger venues beckon.
Review & Photos: Dave Bott
Gallery: All photos © Dave Bott (used with kind permission)
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