From covering a couple gigs in Clonmel over the last year I can safely say, if there’s one thing it does well, it’s giving a stage to something fresh before it blows up. Last night at Bakers Bar was a prime example. The Wran, a brand new project formed by the Dunford brothers (Tommy, Danny, Sean, and Stephen), brought an awesome energy to the snug, character-filled venue that had everyone smiling and foot-stomping from the get go.
A step away from some of the members other project Under Starling, The Wran feels like both a natural evolution and also a bold reinvention. There’s something seriously exciting about a band that can blend the raw spirit of trad with the inventive flair of acts like The Scratch and Amble, and still come away sounding like nobody but themselves. They even joked about attacking “Some Say the Devil’s Dead” with a pickaxe saying “it was too happy”. What came out was a cinematic and utterly captivating version.
Their setlist was steeped in folklore and fury: “Fear Dearg” and “Dunford’s March” stirred up a storm, while “Wind & Rain” and “My Son Finn” gave the brothers a chance to show off harmonies that were honestly spine-tingling and which many of the crowd commented on. Speaking of the crowd, they were packed into this quirky venue, at times you could hear a pin drop while at other times you couldn’t hear yourself think. The cheers got louder as the night went on with a standing ovation sealing the deal at the end.
There’s no question these lads are quickly gaining traction, they were playing a live set on local radio earlier in the week, and judging by the crowd’s reaction last night, it’s only the beginning. And with a summer tour that includes Glastonbury and Greenbelt on the cards, The Wran won’t be Ireland’s best-kept secret for long.
The Wran photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Ard Uí Chain
O’ Sullivan’s
Dunfords March
My Son Finn
Wind & Rain
Fear Dearg
Some say the Devil’s Dead
Suí Finn
Rocky Road
Waterford Boys
Photos & Words – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography