MDR / Slugs – live gallery and review from Wavelength Rooftop bar, Cork 31.07.2026

Friday night at Wavelength delivered everything a local gig should. The rooftop setting, bathed in the last of the evening light, gave the night a special atmosphere, while an excellent sound mix let every instrument breathe without losing the vocals.

Slugs delivered a blistering set of riff-heavy alt-rock, pairing swagger with a sharp melodic edge. Their songs simmered with themes of identity and inner conflict, letting the tension build before erupting into controlled chaos. “Katie” was the defining moment of the set, capturing the band’s knack for balancing restraint with explosive release. It’s easy to see why they’re quickly becoming one of Cork’s most talked-about DIY acts.

If Slugs supplied the spark, MDR sustained the fire. The Cork and Tipperary outfit had the room from the moment they stepped on stage, delivering a set driven less by individual highlights than by momentum. Their blend of melodic guitar lines and emotionally direct songwriting built a relentless intensity, and a crowd fully invested. It was a performance that felt earned rather than manufactured a band growing alongside its audience rather than chasing one.

Cork’s live scene has no shortage of promising acts, but nights like this suggest both Slugs and MDR are moving beyond promise.

Slugs photos:

MDR photos:

Photos & words – Shane J Horan @shanejhoran