The Record Room was buzzing on Friday night as Irish rappers tore the house down to the delight of a sell-out crowd. The night of nonstop music was organised by Limerick-based artist Gavin Da Vinci and featured some of the hottest local acts.
Da Vinci took to the stage to showcase his successful new project, Folklore. He insists that Limerick was the best place to showcase his magnum opus, describing the Treaty City as “the best city to play a gig in.”
“It’s always energetic and involved, which makes a great show. The talent is off the charts in Limerick, especially considering its population,” he explained.
From the moment the doors opened at 8 pm, the Record Room was taken over by some of the brightest minds in Limerick’s hip-hop scene. Hazey Haze, Harry Kelly, and JaBro brought bars and beats galore before Da Vinci closed the show.
Local legend Hazey Haze has released several records with long-time friend Gavin Da Vinci and features on the artist’s new project. Their track “Run2Water” with fellow Limerick rapper Strange Boy went down a treat with the live crowd.
A standout among the local acts was JaBro, a young hip-hop producer who was celebrating the release of his own project, Wish U Luv(ed). The Caherline native was delighted with the opportunity to showcase his debut album to a sellout audience.
“I’m grateful to have been given the chance by Gavin. It was interesting to see how people reacted. To see people who you don’t know enjoying it is validating in a way,” he said.
Local rap connoisseur and fellow artist Dale Maguire described the show as “the best gig I have been to in a long time”. Having followed the Limerick rap scene for over a decade, he understands just how important these shows are to the city’s culture.
“Not only did you have the immense talent from all the acts, but you also had that sense of community and togetherness. I’d love if the community and artists could keep the momentum going, because the talent is there,” he said proudly.
For fans of local hip-hop, Friday’s gig was likely enough to satisfy their thirst for the time being. However, Gavin Da Vinci insists that these events aren’t done just yet. He plans to bring more nights of collaborative performances to Limerick in the near future.
“This wasn’t a one-time thing; this is something we hope to do more of. I’ve had a couple of artists ask already, so it seems to be something that could become regular, especially for any local releases,” he revealed.