Amble at Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Since forming in 2022, Irish folk trio Amble have been having a heck of a ride, from quitting their day jobs to releasing debut album Reverie this year, touring the world to Australia and back and amassing a dedicated following, many of whom are attending one of their three nights playing Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Robbie Cunningham, Oisín McCaffrey and Ross McNerney have captured the attention of fans (definitely Irish – and beyond) with their soulful melodies and poetic storytelling, combined with lively instrumentation that will make you feel like you’re in a pub in the heart of Ireland. “It’s very surreal to be able to play in this kind of room once, let alone twice and even more,” Cunningham tells the crowd. If there was ever an antidote to the wintry freeze, it’s the cosy, hugging harmonies and gravelly tones of this Irish band.
The setup is intentionally simple: the trio stand in line, with their additional three Irish musicians (who also gave up their day jobs this year) on a raised platform behind. The sounds created alone take centre stage. Charming and heartfelt, they perform whilst taking it in turns to describe the writing process behind it. For individual artists who only recently banded in recent years, their sound is cohesive and harmonious in more ways than one. One Man’s Love is about living for the weekend too much, whilst Of Land and Sea is about missing people whilst on the road and newly released Rarest Hour was actually written many years ago.
Even though a lot of the songs often overlap in sound and feeling, it’s difficult to choose just a few highlights. There are many: husky and nostalgic Schoolyard Days, upbeat Like the Piper and rich harmony-laden Tonnta, which closes with an explosive celebration of strings. The room truly comes alive when able to appreciate the complex landscape of every instrumental layer: guitars, mandolin and even a harmonium, a keyboard-like box. Be it uptempo or ballad, it’s so seamless that one could even forget they are actively playing instruments. However, the one standout moment comes a few tracks before the finale in the form of Mary’s Pub. Written about an encounter in a pub-turned imaginary love story and showcasing Cunningham’s beautifully rich tones, it prompts a moving audience singalong that crescendos powerfully throughout the piece.
The “very showbiz” encore consists of Mariner Boy and Swan Song: slow, stripped-back folk songs and fitting fan favourites. It’s pure, easy-listening escapism in a room, highlighting both the beauty in the raw simplicity of live music but also the exciting path the band are undeniably on. It could easily feel stuffy in the packed 2000-strong room, but it’s hard to argue: Amble are your latest breath of fresh air.
Bev Lung
Photos: Guifre de Peray
For further information and future events, visit Amble’s website here.
Watch the video for The Rarest Hour here:
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