Tipperary’s Battle of the Bands Clonmel Review
By Local Talent Takes the Stage in Tipperary
Tipperary’s Battle of the Bands roared into life last night in the heart of Clonmel, with the opening round landing in the snug, and charming confines of Gleeson’s Pub. By the time the first chords rang out, the place was already bursting at the seams —with standing room only.
Nine bands stepped up to the plate, but with only three slots available in the final, there was an edge of competition humming through the room from the outset. Opening the night was the well regarded Peadar Bradshaw Band, who wasted no time in setting the bar high with a set steeped in gritty blues-rock swagger. Bradshaw, clearly comfortable under the low lights and close quarters of the pub stage, led the charge with a pair of originals — “Tinted Windows” and “Unfinished Business” — both delivered with the kind of rough-edged confidence that immediately locked the crowd in.
Next to take the stage were Shining in Carrie, who shifted the night’s sonic palette firmly into alt-rock territory. Where the opener favoured bluesy grit, this was something moodier and more expansive — chiming guitars, punchy rhythms and the kind of dynamic build-ups that thrive in a packed room. They delivered a tight, confident set, but it was their original track “Senseless” that truly cut through the noise for me.
If the night needed a jolt of pure volume, Basilisk were more than happy to provide it. The band dragged the evening into heavier territory with a blast of unapologetic metal, unleashing a set that rattled the walls of Gleeson’s and shook a few pints dangerously close to the edge of the bar.
They tore through two originals — “Fibonacci” and “Flying Whales” — both delivered with ferocious energy and razor-sharp precision. The crowd responded in kind, heads banging and cheers cutting through the distortion, as Basilisk proved themselves one of the night’s most electrifying acts.
Silver Blood leaned into a mix of influence and originality, slipping a slice of The Smiths into their set before unveiling their own track, “The One You Left Behind.” It’s always a risk for a young band to balance homage with their own voice, but they managed it with confidence. The original in particular hinted at a band finding its footing — melodic, emotive and delivered with a sincerity that clearly resonated with the crowd. For a relatively young outfit, it was an assured performance that suggested plenty of promise ahead.
As we hit the midway point Static Haze literally blew me away with a rendition of Sky Fall. The lead singer’s vocals were jaw-dropping, soaring over the packed pub like they belonged on a stadium, impressive performance.
No time to catch your breath — the night kept rolling as Anglesea hit the stage, injecting another shot of alt-rock energy into the packed pub. Their set featured two sharp originals; each delivered with a confidence that left audience buzzing.
Stoneaways brought the heat next, fronted by another standout vocalist who immediately grabbed the room’s attention. The band tore through a couple of their own tracks with unrelenting energy, with “City Burns” truly standing out.
KYB have been generating more than a few murmurs on the local circuit lately, so there was a real sense of anticipation when the all-girl outfit stepped up. They didn’t disappoint. Turning the heat up another notch, the band delivered a punchy, confident set that had the crowd fully onside from the get-go.
Their original track “Whispers of Home” proved to be a real highlight — a genuine crowd-pleaser that drew some of the loudest cheers of the night and further cemented KYB’s growing reputation
Closing out the night were Deerhaven, and they made sure the evening finished on a high. Dropping a little Radiohead into the mix, the band delivered a set packed with atmosphere and swagger.
I didn’t envy the judges having to choose three from the nine as to be honest, they were all great and worthy of a slot, but after much deliberation the bands going through were
1st Peadar Bradshaw Band
2nd Basilisk
3rd KYB
Congratulations to all because the standard of talent was extremely high and I have no doubt we will be hearing more about all these bands in the future.
As for Tipperary BTB its off and running, Stephen McGrath and all involved should take a bow, on a really well-run event a huge opportunity for new and up and coming bands.
The second heat of Tipperary Battle of the Bands lands in Hickey’s Bar on March 22, and word on the street is tickets are already flying. If you’re planning to squeeze into the crowd and catch the next wave of local noise-makers before they blow up, you’ll want to move fast. Get Your Tickets Here
Band Socials
Peadar Bradshaw Band
Shining in Carrie
Basilisk
Silver Blood
Static Haze
Anglesea
Stoneaways
KYB
Deerhaven