Live Review: Amble - O2 Academy, Glasgow 30/09/2026
With so much on the horizon, Amble prove the world is theirs for the taking as they blow the roof off on night 2 of their UK tour.
The nights are getting longer and it’s certainly getting colder but thanks to Amble, Glasgow was aglow on Wednesday night. With their month off complete and the O2 Academy sold out and fit to burst, their fifth ever show in Scotland was one that will no doubt be remembered for a long time.
Setting the stage was Kean Kavanagh. Joined by Finn Mac Anna on drums and Peter Brien on synth and bass, Kean proves himself as one of the best storytellers out there at the moment. His artistry is one which blends his Portlaoise roots with indie rock and Americana, creating a sound that transcends time and geography. Aptly calling themselves the ‘preamble’ to the night’s main event, the trio created an atmosphere that felt like something out of an old film; nostalgic, warm and reverent. Their chemistry is incredible - for the majority of their set they played facing inward towards one another, creating a sense that we as the audience were flies on the wall in the rehearsal studio. Illuminated in shades of blue, green and gold, you couldn’t help but be drawn in by their charm. Of the many high points in the set, a favourite had to be ‘A Cowboy Song’, their final number to warm up the crowd. Taken from his debut album ‘The County Star’ that came out last year, it is one of the best sonic representations of his identity as a Houston-born Irishman, marrying together the sounds of both sides of the Atlantic. Knocking over his guitar and leaving the stage buzzing, you can’t help but want more. Luckily, Kean is on a tour of his own, playing new music in pubs through the ‘ber months. If the Glasgow McChuills’ show was anything to go by, these are not to be missed.
As Amble came on to deafening cheers, you couldn’t help but feel a bit emotional. Folk music at it’s core is about bringing people together, and that was palpable from the moment the first chord was played. Whilst there’s no doubt the entire tour would be brilliant, there’s something particularly special about this kind of music performed to a crowd that feels like home. Celtic music, whether its sean-nos or rap as Gaeilge, is bigger and more important than ever so to be in the room and singing songs about the roots that tie us all together was a feeling I wish could be bottled.
The tour is in preparation for the January release of ‘Love And All Its Wares’ so it isn’t long before the crowd is treated to exclusive first listens to some of the songs coming in the new year. The very first of these sneak peeks comes in ‘Only to Run’, a gorgeous track only written by Robbie a couple months ago and barely just recorded in April. Not wanting to give anything away, the only way you could possibly sum up this song is to say that it is spell binding. Lots of people talk about moments where you could hear a pin drop but for this track in that room, time stood still. Pure magic.
From opener ‘Schoolyard Days’ which was the first song from their first album ‘Reverie’ to ‘Church Bells’ which is set to be their next single, the set was hit after hit after hit. Dipping between songs new and old, any space in the room was taken up by the crowd clapping, stamping their feet and dancing. From the swirling harmonies on ‘Marlay Park’, the anthemic lyrics of ‘Moral Victory’ and the searing instrumentation on ‘One Man’s Love’, Amble’s discography truly has no weak links. A personal favourite was ‘Of Land and Sea’, which was my introduction to the band. Mashed up seamlessly with the closing lines ‘Hey, I’m Living’ from ‘Treehouse Wings’, it was a real treat to finally hear live. It was clear by the end of the night that the ordering of the setlist was meticulously thought out. The evening closed out with ‘Poets Run the Land’, another of the never-before-heard brand new songs from the upcoming album. There’s something incredibly bold about finishing an encore with something unfamiliar but its a swing that does not miss because the crowd are enthralled. There’s something very ‘Irish Goodbye’ about it - whilst the song itself is sweet, gentle and a clear goodnight to the crowd, the teasing and mystery of leaving us with something unknown is wonderfully clever.
Between tracks as bits of kit are swapped in and out, the lads draw the curtain back and give context behind the songs. When the tunes are as emotive and lyrical as these are, the insight into what inspired them is often as enchanting as the songs themselves. Despite their sonic cohesiveness, Amble as a band have no single songwriter so each of these introductory chats gives whoever penned the track a moment to share the story that went into creating it. ‘Hand Me Downs’, written by Robbie is about the importance of telling people how much they mean while we still have them around. ‘Lonely Island’, written by Ross is about the people who make a place a home. ‘Mariner Boy’, written by Oisin was the very first song they ever released and is about (and always dedicated to) his grandad Tom. In an interview a couple of years ago, they summed it up better than I ever could: ‘There’s no wall of sound behind us to protect us and the vulnerability is real. That's what connects with people; they feel it. They can tell that we are just being who we are and telling our stories’. That sentiment : the idea of coming together, sharing stories and fostering connection with one another. That is exactly what Amble are all about.
The sound was immense, in no small part down to the number of instruments being played by the 8 men on stage. Amble officially is made up of Robbie Cunningham, Oisín McCaffrey, and Ross McNerney, but for this tour they are joined by 5 further band members; all of whom Robbie says are new to the family. Towards the end of the set, each are introduced one by one and cheers are divvied out for both their talents and the different Irish counties they hail from. Seán McKeon from Dublin, Peter Kelly from County Offaly, Liam Watts from Connemara County Galway, Andrew Smyth from Kilsheelan County Tipperary and Seánie Bermingham from Mullinahone County Tipperary. Whether it be the uilleann pipes and the double bass or the harmonium and mandolin, these lads threw everything (and the belfast sink) in.
Whilst Ross’ banjo is the obvious choice, the MVP of the night has to be the performance of ‘Mary’s Pub’. One of the many things that first brought the trio together was their love of Luke Kelly and the old Irish ballads. ‘Mary’s Pub’ came out of their determination to write a song that could stand up alongside the greats and since it’s release in 2023, it has become one of their most successful and unmistakably ‘Amble’ tracks. The lighting team who were sensational all night went above and beyond with warm twinkly lights that blurred as the tears began to well up. By the time Robbie, Oisin and Ross stood back during the final chorus to listen to the crowd sing out every word a capella, there was not a dry eye to be seen.
With the rest of the tour to go and lots to be excited about, its a great time to be an Amble fan. Aside from the January release of ‘Love And All Its Wares’ (available now for preorder) and ‘Churchbells’ which drops on Friday October 9th, the most anticipation is for their 5 nights at the Royal Castlebar in December. Set to be an incredible show, it will be raising funds and awareness for LauraLynn and Sunflower children’s hospices in Ireland. In what will be a surprise to no one, it has sold out in its entirety.
Words by Kirsty Ann Thomsom
