The Scratch / Bucket – live gallery and review from Wexford Spiegeltent Festival 23.10.2026

The Scratch Spiegeltent, Wexford: Dancing, Moshing and a Whole Lot of Mayhem

Originally hailing from Belgium, the Spiegeltent is a fitting setting for a night where dancing, moshing and a healthy dose of chaos take centre stage. The Scratch brought all three to Wexford, turning the tent into a bouncing, heaving mass of bodies.

The band took the stage after a ethereal and tribal backing track with celtic undertones built in intensity.

Opening with “Pulling” and “Pull Like a Dog”, the band got things moving. “Flaker” and “Buttons” kept the momentum building, with the set moving through the distinctive mix of trad-inspired rhythms, heavy riffs and unrestrained energy that makes The Scratch such a compelling live act.

“Seanchi” and “Excuse” added further variety before “Gladrags” and “Blood and Thunder” helped keep the intensity high. By the time “Fucks Sake” and “Mother of God” rolled around, there was little chance of the crowd standing still for long. “Blaggard”, “Calpines” and “Cheeky” kept the set charging forward, while “Old Dog” brought the main stretch of the night towards its conclusion.

There was a quiet moment amid the madness with a tribute to Dónal Lunny, with the band also giving a shout-out to a Gaza charity with a personal link during their merch reminder. They also encouraged people to donate any beer glass deposit returns left at the merch stand, a small gesture that could make a difference to a the cause.

The real fireworks came with “Ace of Spades”, the penultimate song of the night. The floor turned a Stranger Things-style red as the crowd launched into another round of moshing. The Motörhead classic was a fitting choice for a set built on sheer volume, speed and collective abandon. And in a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the night, a photographer was carried over the crowd and with the aim of delivery to the bar, a manoeuvre that surely deserves its own place in the gig highlights. ( “Get bouncy to the BAR ! “) 

With “Another Round” bringing proceedings to a close, the set finished on a note that felt entirely appropriate for a crowd clearly reluctant to call it a night.

Behind the chaos, there was some clever technical wizardry at work. The Scratch’s ampless setup means they can drop into pretty much any city with minimal fuss. All three guitarists use neat pedalboards built around Quad Cortex units, replacing traditional guitar amps with a compact, streamlined rig. It’s a modern, efficient approach that leaves the band free to concentrate on what matters: delivering a ferocious live show.

A night of big energy, heavy riffs, trad-inflected chaos, clever gear, crowd-surfing camera operators and a red-lit mosh pit, The Scratch left the Spiegeltent in Wexford with plenty to remember

Support Act “Bucket”

Bucket delivered a loud, intense blast of their trademark noise rock, unleashing a wall of sound that hit hard in the Spiegeltent. An eager audience was treated to a raw, high-energy performance that made for a fitting start to the night supporting The Scratch.

Bucket photos:

The Scratch photos & set-list:

Set-list:
Pulling
Pull Like a Dog
Flaker
Buttons
Seanchi
Excuse
Gladrags
Blood and Thunder
Fucks Sake
Mother of God
Blaggard
Calpines
Cheeky
Old Dog
Ace of Spades
Another Round

Photos & words – Wayne Polley @hawkeye_polley_photography