The Weeknd's Dystopian Spectacle Dazzles Dublin at Croke Park
The Weeknd brought his After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour to Croke Park over the weekend, performing at the Dublin venue on Saturday and Sunday night. The Canadian star, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, delivered a huge production featuring 30 masked dancers, fireworks, flames and lasers, alongside an elaborate stage set dominated by a giant golden figure, according to both RTE and The Irish Times.
The set included hits such as Blinding Lights, Save Your Tears, Can't Feel My Face, The Hills and I Feel It Coming. Special guest Playboi Carti also joined The Weeknd on stage for their collaborations Timeless and RATHER LIE, a moment described by The Irish Times as a thrilling appearance—gobliny, manic and aggressive, almost the antithesis of the Weeknd, who is polished, cinematic, and blissed-out.
A Mixed Critical Reception
The Irish Times gave the show four out of five stars, noting a somewhat jarring pre-show element: a Nespresso ad played on the big screen before the Weeknd took the stage, a detail that seemed at odds with the dystopian ambiance of the production. The reviewer pointed out that the ad, combined with the postapocalyptic cityscape onstage—its depressing cut-out buildings like burnt waffles—and a giant golden automaton resembling a pervy reimagining of the Daft Punk icon—made one wonder if the ad was part of the whole Blade Runner aesthetic.
Despite this quirk, the Irish Times praised the show as a real spectacle, with 30 masked dancers in red, culty robes, fireworks, flame-throwers, and lasers shooting out of the huge rotating golden woman. The first half of the set leaned heavily on material from his albums Hurry Up Tomorrow and After Hours, with the Weeknd in a reflective mask and gloves. Then came the dramatic unmasking and a plunge into his back catalogue, with nostalgic hits from Beauty Behind the Madness through Starboy.
Fan Reaction and Personal Moments
Reaction to the show was largely positive, with fans online praising Tesfaye's vocals and the scale of the production, as reported by RTE. The Weeknd also got up close with the crowd during the weekend, heading down to sing among fans during Saturday's show and performing Out of Time with a fan on Sunday night.
The Weeknd thanked the crowd for the success of his "back-to-back sold-out" shows at Croke Park, a claim reported by The Irish Times. However, RTE noted that tickets appeared to remain on sale until the last minute, a detail that contradicts the sold-out claim, though it is unclear if this was a significant issue.
A Fascinating Performer
The Irish Times offered a deeper reflection on the Weeknd's artistry, describing him as fascinating, noting that his songs occupy the instant before a huge overdose, or the last dizzy seconds of autoerotic asphyxiation—the threshold where the highest highs press up against the cold black afterlife. The reviewer observed that almost every song he has ever made is about anhedonia, yet the songs themselves are almost obscenely enjoyable, seemingly lab-made to hit the pleasure centres.
In person, the Weeknd possesses almost none of the qualities his records supposedly embody, the review noted, pointing out that there is remarkably little sexual charisma, and that he comes across as likable and quite cheesy, which is surprising. The show is scheduled to continue with another performance at Croke Park on Sunday night.