The Belfast duo Dea Matrona played at Debaser Nova as part of their European headlining tour, ahead of joining Sting as a support act on his tour this summer.
Hailing from Belfast (what they referred to as North of Ireland during their banter with the audience), Orláith Forsythe and Mollie McGinn form a rockin’ duo under the name of Dea Matrona (ie. the Divine Mother). They also recounted in between songs how they had met at school, when they both wanted to take part in a talent competition and there was just one spot left, so a teacher suggested they join their forces.
They have perfected their craft busking on the streets of Belfast since their teen years and gained millions of views and quite a following on social media ahead of releasing their debut album For Your Sins in 2024. They are getting ready to put out their second album, Hate That I Care, in early June.
The sound of Dea Matrona is a delicious mix of 70s rock nostalgia and more modern alt-pop influences. You can hear echoes of Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin, or even something like Arctic Monkeys. Their songs build as much on singing harmonies and catchy melodies as on raunchy retro riffs.
Their live presence was undeniable, as the duo commanded the stage at the intimate club and served rockstar poses leaning their backs against each other.
Debaser Nova is proving to be a great venue for such up’n’coming stars, after Bar Brookly was rebranded and remodelled with a much better layout for the stage.
All photos © Nina Uddin
