Ireland has long been a wellspring of creativity, giving the world iconic music, groundbreaking films, timeless literature, and captivating visual art. It comes as no surprise that a university at the heart of its capital reflects this rich artistic spirit. At Trinity, the music scene is alive and well, and one initiative that greatly contributes to this is Top Floor Music (TFM), a subcommittee of Trinity FM, the College’s student radio station. Founded in 2017 as Trinity’s response to the National Public Radio’s (NPR) Tiny Desk Concerts, Top Floor Music — colloquially referred to as “Top Floor” — stands out as a vibrant platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of student artists and fostering a deep appreciation for music within Trinity’s community. Top Floor hosts regular small-scale gigs on campus, offering an intimate space where performers can showcase their talents.
“I feel like there aren’t as many known nights or events that don’t involve a DJ within the Trinity music scene”
Top Floor has carved out a niche on campus that not only celebrates student creativity, but also strengthens the artistic heartbeat of the University; this sentiment is shared by its current Head Officer, Sophie Harris. In an interview with Trinity News, Harris stated: “I do think there was a bit of a gap in some elements of the Trinity music scene, purely being that most Trinity music events are held at clubs and cost money. If you want to go to a Trinity music event, you most often have to buy a ticket to an off-campus event.” For her, “there is a bit of a gap for analog music. I feel like there aren’t as many known nights or events that don’t involve a DJ within the Trinity music scene” – an example of this being the weekly Pav Fridays which showcase DJs from the DUDJ society. Top Floor thus offers students an alternative to the typical music scene at Trinity and most other universities, which can often be overwhelmingly club-focused.
These student-led concerts also make it easier for students to enjoy, participate and socialise in Trinity’s vibrant music scene without the financial or logistical barriers of private or ticketed events. A key benefit of the initiative, that Harris also noted, is that Top Floor is led “by the students-for the students – a sort of DIY, chilled space.” Alongside accessibility, a key priority of the Top Floor committee is fostering a laid-back and welcoming atmosphere, where students can unwind, connect, and simply enjoy their time at Trinity in a space that celebrates creativity and community.
When asked about the importance of creating and maintaining spaces like this on campus, a fourth-year student who has performed at Top Floor explained, “for students who aren’t creatives, it’s so important because it allows them to be exposed and access art, and then be inspired by it.” Harris reinforced the need to provide these alternative opportunities, citing her own experiences from her first year of college where society environments felt slightly intimidating to newcomers. Especially as a fresher, entering a creative space where people already know each other, or where there is pressure to look a certain way, be a certain way or act a certain way, makes contributing your own artistic voice to that community a daunting prospect.
“It’s a great opportunity to play a gig with an audience, especially for a tiny student band with no following whatsoever”
For the artists, Top Floor offers more than just an opportunity to showcase their music; the platform provides a supportive space to play for fellow students in a low-stakes way. Harris emphasised this mission, explaining, “we don’t want to just highlight established artists and bands, we also want to highlight newer bands, bands that are less experienced, and highlight them because they’re a part of the Trinity community.” One such performer confirmed this sentiment; for them, the most unique and valuable benefit of Top Floor Music was the concert-like opportunities it created for Trinity’s artistic community: “My bandmate and I decided we wanted to play because it’s a great opportunity to play a gig with an audience, especially for a tiny student band with no following whatsoever. So it was an amazing opportunity to get some exposure, but also just to play a fun gig!”
Like any student-led initiative, especially in the fine and performing arts category, Top Floor has faced its share of challenges – from logistical and technical difficulties to just getting enough funding. Because Top Floor is a subcommittee, it doesn’t receive substantial funds for their events relative to some of Trinity’s larger societies. In the past, engagement has also been a hurdle, particularly when Top Floor’s events were more sporadic. Another performer who played Top Floor in its earlier years shared that its gigs then were few and far between. Harris echoed this, pointing to the transformation that her and her committee have ushered in. Under her leadership, Top Floor has evolved significantly this year, evolving from occasional, intimate performances, to a series of livelier events that draw in larger audiences. As she reflected, “To be fair, it is based on Tiny Desk, which is a super low-key, usually acoustic performance,” but Top Floor has grown in scale and in energy, with Harris stating that her committee has “made it more of an event to go to, and we’ve taken it in a bigger direction in terms of how many people are coming to the gigs.” Top Floor has also embraced new ways to engage with the artistic community beyond live performances. These have included interviews with the artists which will soon be posted to their social media with recordings of gigs, as well as published in TN2 Magazine, Trinity’s arts and culture publication.
“It’s on campus, it’s free, it’s very accessible, and it’s for everyone”
Looking ahead, Harris expressed optimism about the future of Top Floor and the largely untapped well of potential. Whether the committee continues with their new direction or returns to its more intimate roots, the future of Top Floor will depend on the vision of its next leaders. Currently, Harris and the rest of the committee aspire to grow Top Floor even further, potentially through increased collaborations with other societies, bigger events, and spotlight interviews with artists who have performed for the initiative in the past. Regardless of its direction, Top Floor remains a platform deeply committed to celebrating the creativity and talent of Trinity students, providing unique opportunities for performers and audiences alike. As Harris put it: “it’s on campus, it’s free, it’s very accessible, and it’s for everyone.” On an academically demanding and fast-paced campus where the nightlife and music scene often lean toward techno and electronic beats, Top Floor Music provides a welcome respite – a space to slow down, connect, and savour the authentic, analog artistry of Trinity’s talented students.
