MR BILLY FITZGERALD
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Whelan’s Upstairs • Tue 10th March 2026
A year ago Mr Billy Fitzgerald released his lush indie-pop masterpiece ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’, 10 songs that simultaneously bathe in the faded light of heartbreak while pulling you on to the dancefloor. To mark this anniversary of the release Mr Billy Fitzgerald returns to Whelans and releases the live EP ‘Little Gestures’.
‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’ caught the sharpened ears of XSNoize, Hot Press, Turn Up The Volume, Ragged Cast, Rock N Load, The Beat.ie and RTE2XM as it offered up a mix of RnB, indie-pop and 80’s inspired tracks. Owing as much to Curtis Mayfield and Destiny’s Child as it did to Robert Palmer and Beck.
Tempo Magazine called it “a perfect debut album” and The Goo named it as Irish album of the year for 2025.
Billy created the album over a decade where he took responsibility for every role: writer, performer, recording engineer and producer, resulting in a lush production with no sound left unexplored. Now on ‘Little Gestures’ we get to hear the tracks stripped back to their raw elements.
The EP takes 4 tracks from the album and reimagines them for the live environment. Having spent the last year touring the album, Billy found that the songs evolved with the energy of a live band and after being inspired by NPR’s famous Tiny Desk series decided to capture the songs in a new stripped down form. Recorded while recovering from the effects of long-covid Billy credits this as his most honest vocal performance recorded to date. Calling on his wife and friends to help bring these versions to life, recording was carried out guerilla style in bedrooms, rehearsal studios and secret spaces.
The recordings capture the energy of this, employing shakers, drum machines and melodicas in a stark contrast to the maximalist approach to production on the record. The EP acts as both the perfect entry point for the uninitiated and as a worthy companion piece to the album for fans.
‘Little Gestures’ is the perfect way to close out the ‘A Grand Romantic Gesture’ album cycle. Bringing the songs back to how they originally began all while offering new listeners an alternative entry point into the world of Mr Billy Fitzgerald. Taking all the experience from creating, releasing and touring an album and now with the expanded (yet stripped back) sounds explored on ‘Little Gestures’ it’s exciting to see what Billy will offer up next!
Join Mr Billy Fitzgerald and friends for an evening of smart, sad, funny and ultra-catchy pop songs Upstairs in Whelans on Tuesday 10th March. You’ll be delighted you did.
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TICKETS
€12 available online from Whelan’s – 50c per ticket service charge applies.
Strictly over 18′s, I.D. may be required.
AFTER THE GIG
Whelan’s Silent Disco from 10:30pm – 2 DJs, just pick the one you like best (€5 cover charge), plus Late Bar + Drinks Promos.