The majestic National Concert Hall, Dublin hosted a stirring celebration of one of rock music’s great voices. Titled Neil Young at 80, the evening brought together the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ireland’s premier Neil Young tribute band Harvest and the powerful 30-piece choir Hearts of Gold, conducted by Gavin Murphy, in a tribute to the songwriting legacy of Neil Young. Cathleen was excited to have contributed arrangements for the sell-out show.
The show journeyed through decades of Young’s catalogue, from early folk-roots classics like Only Love Can Break Your Heart and Heart of Gold, to later masterpieces such as Harvest Moon and Unknown Legend. Highlights on the programme included stirring renditions of Old Man, Helpless, and the iconic Rockin’ In the Free World, alongside a faithful orchestral reproduction of There’s a World.
The concert offered more than mere nostalgia —serving up an immersive reinterpretation of Young’s music through symphonic textures, vocal richness, and the vibrant energy of live band performance. The combination of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra’s lush arrangements, Harvest’s authentic tribute delivery, and the choral uplift of Hearts of Gold created a unique and moving tribute for both long-time devotees and newer fans,