Tipperary’s Battle of the Bands Thurles Review
By Thurles Rocks With Talent
Last night, the second heat of the Tipperary Battle of the Bands unfolded within the renowned walls of Hickey’s Bar in Thurles — a venue long synonymous with raw, unpredictable live music.
And much like the opening heat, the place was packed to the rafters — each band drawing its own loyal following, bolstered by a crowd of curious neutrals ready to be won over.
First to take the stage were Purple 77, a five-piece band making their public debut after forming just weeks ago — all nerves, momentum, and the unmistakable buzz of a band stepping into the light for the first time. Working through a set of covers, ‘Creep’ and ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ they pushed the idea of a debut to its limits — delivering strong, assured vocals anchored by tight, driving guitars and drums. It’s early days, but there’s already a sense of intent about Purple 77; on this showing, they look more than capable of making serious noise in the near future.
Next up were Big Toe — and yes, it’s as good a band name as it sounds — they wasted no time in exploding onto the stage with a set that felt immediate and powerful. Running through ‘Shla na Gig’, ‘I Saw Her Face’ and ‘Backdoor Man’, they delivered it all with a punchy, no-frills intensity that grabbed the audience by the collar and refused to let go. A stomper of a set — and one of my clear favourites.
Sound Out looked completely at home on stage, fronted by commanding vocals that carried real confidence. They had little trouble pulling the crowd in, turning their three-song run — ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ and ‘Twist and Shout’ — into a full-room singalong. A definite crowd-pleaser.
By the halfway mark, Cashel’s own Ferns, took to the stage — a band I’d caught live before and been impressed by, and wow, they delivered just as strongly this time around. Their energy was instant, their sound polished yet raw, and their set flowed flawlessly — from David Bowie’s ‘Moonage Daydream’ to their own ‘How Do You Sleep at Night’ and Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’, each track landing with precision and heart, they just get better and better.
Going Nowhere absolutely owned the stage, delivering a powerhouse performance that had the crowd buzzing from start to finish. Their setlist — featuring the explosive energy of ‘My Hero’, the anthemic swagger of ‘Morning Glory’, and the raw punch of ‘Gone, one thing’s for sure — these guys know how to rock, putting on a seriously impressive show.
With the night already fuelled by a vocally charged crowd, things were about to get a whole lot louder as the powder keg that is Paradise Conspiracy stormed the stage. A band that’s been building momentum over the past year, they wasted no time setting the room ablaze with a blistering set that included originals ‘Take My Life’, ‘Evil Eyes’, and a ripping cover of ‘Bull on Parade’. One thing’s clear — they do it their way, and their way is full-throttle chaos from start to finish, leaving no corner of the bar untouched by their sheer intensity.
The sound of Motown isn’t what you usually expect at a Battle of the Bands, but The Grapevine Band were about to serve up pure gold. From Barrett Strong’s ‘Money’ to Aretha Franklin’s, ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ and The Contours ‘Do You Love Me’ they had the crowd dancing, clapping, and fully immersed in a groove that felt timeless. This group are pretty special and ones to take note of.
Steeple View took no prisoners, tearing through a high-octane set that included Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’, ‘Black’, and their own original, ‘Jinxed’. Raw, relentless, and utterly commanding, this was a set that left no doubt — we’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys. Absolutely killer performance.
Last but definitely not least, Revival — another relatively new band — proved they can kick it with the best of them. Their set was a whirlwind of crowd-pleasers, from the cheeky charm of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ to the anthemic sweep of ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, capped by a surprise twist with ‘Come Out Ye Black and Tans’. Backed by powerful, commanding vocals, Revival left a mark — another band to keep firmly on your radar.
As the votes were being counted, the intermission came in the form of Sun Merchant, adding a welcome touch of energy while the results were tallied — which, to be fair, didn’t take long. Crowd favourites Paradise Conspiracy stormed to first place in the finale, joined by The Grapevine Band and Ferns.
It goes without saying that the final promises to be epic — a showdown packed with so much talent it could easily steal the spotlight from anything else around. But it’s also worth noting that every band who’s taken part, both in Thurles and Clonmel, have showcased remarkable skill and personality; I’d happily pay to see any of them again. And at just €5 a ticket for the heats, it’s arguably the best entertainment bargain around. Roll on the final — it’s shaping up to be unmissable.