Amble and Maicín @ Foundry

With the success of their new album Reverie and their EP Hand Me Downs, Amble’s 2025 tour felt like a victory lap for the Irish folk band. Nowhere was this clearer than at their first ever gig at Sheffield’s Foundry, where the trio were greeted with a reception worthy of folk royalty. The Mic's Charlie Gadd reports.

Cork-based band Maicín started off the night with a storming 30-minute set that took us through their post-punk catalogue. From jagged guitars to dreamlike synths, their music echoed through the venue and engaged the whole crowd. Pair their incredible sound with the charm and passion they brought to the stage, and it’s hard to see them as anything but an exceptional headline act in the near future. Highlights from their set included the amusingly named but tragic One Channel Television (Shit London Guinness) and the catchy pop-punk-inspired Che Guevara. As they left the stage there was a feeling across the whole crowd that we had seen something truly special in Maicín, and I implore anyone, no matter what you listen to, to check them out.

There was a half-hour wait until Amble came on and the anticipation in the crowd was palpable. People of all ages and from all walks of life were brought together by their shared love for this band. This was my second Amble concert (my first was at Rescue Rooms in Nottingham in 2024), and what never fails to surprise me is the sheer number of Irish people who attend their concerts no matter what city they play in; the shared identity and love of country is something truly special that cannot easily be put into words. The anticipation broke as the boys walked out and strummed the first few chords of the sensational Shallow River Run.

What follows is a stream of incredibly crafted folk songs that are in equal measure tragic and hopeful. The band play some of their classics to kick off the gig, from the brilliant Little White Chapel to the uplifting Marlay Park, but as Robbie Cunningham introduces their newest single The Rarest Hour there is a true sense we are in for something special. A haunting song inspired by traditional Irish ballads, with lyrics drawn from their roots, the audience was sent into a stunned silence. Cunningham’s vocals echoed through the venue and delivered a live performance that transcended the studio recording. Amble’s down-to-earth banter acts as interludes to emotionally charged songs sung back to the boys by an eager crowd. The band then send the crowd wild as they introduce their cover of Tyler Childers’ unreleased country masterpiece Jersey Giant; arms are thrown around each other in pure euphoria as the crowd dances and sways together. The second act of the gig only continues this trend as Amble play hit after hit, ending with the incredibly moving Tonnta (a word meaning “waves” in Irish), a song which reflects on familial relationships and reconnection. As the lights dim and Amble leave the stage, a chant of “Olé, Olé, Olé” rings out across the venue.

"Amble’s biggest success is the way they manage to bring people together..."

After three minutes that felt like a lifetime, Amble returned to the stage and played the tragic Mariner Boy, which Oisín McCaffrey dedicates to his late grandfather — the man who inspired his songwriting. They then congratulate the band, who have been playing a range of instruments (from the banjo to the double bass) brilliantly all night. Robbie Cunningham thanks the crowd and earnestly reflects that they did not expect such a response from Sheffield, promising to return. The first strings of Swan Song echo out and, refusing to disappoint, the crowd holler the lyrics in a stunning chorus.

As I reflect on the concert, I realise Amble’s biggest success is the way they manage to bring people together; the brothers who stood in front of me, strangers brought together by a love for their music, and on a personal note, friends brought closer by the shared discovery of this band. Amble’s incredibly personal music ensures them attention, but it is their warm personalities, brotherly relationship and ability to connect with each audience member live that ensures they will become Irish musical royalty.

A fitting end for the album and the concert, Swan Song celebrates the victories in everyone’s journey. When the lyrics “I raise a glass for everyone, for every dream in hope, that it may find the change they seek in their mind” are sung, it is hard not to reflect on Amble’s own special journey.

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Photos coutresy of Charlie Gadd

Edited by Daniela Roux