Saturday night, Brógeal turned Whelan’s into a riotous celebration of everything that makes live music unforgettable. The Scottish band, born from a love of Irish and Scottish folk, punk, and garage rock, smashed all expectations with a night that was as wild as it was electrifying.
From the second they hit the stage, Brógeal’s sound exploded through the room a thrilling collision of banjo, mandolin, electric guitars, and unstoppable energy. Aidan Callaghan was a whirlwind, belting out vocals while moving effortlessly between the banjo and tin whistle, bringing an authentic, fiery edge to their sound. Daniel Harkins, equally commanding, led the crowd with roaring guitar riffs and vocals that demanded every voice in the room join in.
One of the night’s biggest highlights came when Daniel orchestrated a classic move, splitting the crowd right down the middle, tension building, before launching into a thunderous drop that sent everyone crashing into a mosh pit frenzy. Bodies collided, drinks flew, and Whelan’s floor practically shook with the sheer weight of the moment.
But Brógeal weren’t finished. For the final song, Daniel climbed into the crowd and went full send, crowd surfing across a sea of screaming fans, while Aidan kept the fire alive on stage. The energy was raw, sweaty, and absolutely electric. Every lyric was screamed back, every chord pounded straight into the heart of the room.
The night was a beautiful, chaotic clash of punk spirit and folk soul, proving that Brógeal have carved out something truly unique.
Brógeal photos:
Photos & words – Erica Keogh @ericasnapz