There was a surprise in store for fans at Dublin’s 3Arena on Monday night when rising alt-pop artist sombr was joined on stage by The Cranberries members Mike Hogan and Noel Hogan for a performance of their iconic track Linger.
The moment, which took place on 16 March as part of sombr’s Late Nights & Young Romance tour, blended generations of music as the young New York artist shared the stage with two founding members of one of Ireland’s most beloved bands.
Mike and Noel Hogan, alongside drummer Fergal Lawler and late frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan, formed The Cranberries in Limerick in the late 1980s, going on to achieve global success throughout the 1990s.
Originally released in 1993, Linger became a breakthrough hit for the band and remains one of their most recognisable songs, closely tied to O’Riordan’s unmistakable voice.
More than three decades on, the track has experienced a remarkable resurgence in popularity, driven largely by its viral success on TikTok. In recent years, Linger has soundtracked countless videos across the platform, introducing it to a younger audience and pushing it back into global streaming charts—an unlikely second life that mirrors the trajectory of many modern breakout hits.
That connection is particularly fitting given sombr’s own rise to prominence.
The New York-born artist, whose real name is Shane Boose, has built his career in part through online platforms, with TikTok playing a key role in amplifying his music. His stripped-back, emotionally raw sound—often centred on themes of heartbreak, nostalgia and late-night introspection—has resonated strongly with Gen Z listeners.
Tracks such as back to friends and undressed have helped cement sombr as one of the most promising emerging names in alt-pop, racking up millions of streams and gaining traction across both sides of the Atlantic.
His ability to translate that intimate, bedroom-style sound into a live setting has been a defining part of his appeal, with his current tour marking a significant step up in scale as he plays larger venues like the 3Arena.
The collaboration with The Cranberries members in Dublin also underscores the enduring influence of Irish music on a new generation of artists.
While sombr’s sound leans more towards contemporary alt-pop, the emotional clarity and melodic sensibility found in Linger can be seen echoed in his own work—making the on-stage pairing feel both unexpected and natural.
For The Cranberries, the appearance marks a rare live moment in recent years.
Following the death of Dolores O’Riordan in 2018, the band released their final album, In the End, in 2019, which was completed using demo vocals she had recorded before her passing. The album was widely seen as a fitting farewell and earned critical acclaim, with the band confirming at the time that it would be their last release.
Since then, the remaining members have largely stepped back from full-time touring, instead focusing on preserving the band’s legacy through reissues, anniversary editions and curated releases of archival material.
Their music, however, has continued to find new audiences—helped in no small part by the digital era and platforms like TikTok, where songs like Linger and Dreams have enjoyed renewed popularity.
The Dublin performance therefore carried an added emotional weight, not only celebrating a song that has stood the test of time but also bridging past and present in a uniquely Irish setting.
For fans in attendance, it was a rare opportunity to see members of The Cranberries return to the stage in an unexpected context, alongside an artist whose own rise reflects the changing landscape of the music industry.
As live music continues to evolve, moments like this—where legacy acts intersect with emerging talent—highlight the ways in which songs can transcend generations.
In the case of Linger, a track written over 30 years ago, its resurgence through TikTok and its appearance in a modern pop concert setting demonstrate how timeless songwriting can continue to resonate, long after its original release. This is echoed by the 3Arena crowd singing Linger at the top of their lungs, and cheering as hard as they can when sombr announces the Cranberries' Hogan brothers are about to come out on stage.
For sombr, sharing the stage with members of The Cranberries represents another milestone in what has already been a rapid ascent. For fans, it was a reminder of the lasting impact of one of the country’s most iconic bands—brought back to life, if only for a few minutes, in front of a home crowd.
