Amble at Brixton Academy

Amble’s music is great on recorded tracks, but live, their sound excels. This is why Brixton Academy is so full and excited at the band’s biggest UK show to date. It’s the final entry of the Irish folk trio’s tour, and it promises to be a celebration of just how far they’ve come.

Starting with Schoolyard Days, the band have already given the crowd a highlight, serving a number that’s both rousing and indicative of their sound. Following with The Swell, an upbeat and charming tune, Amble light up the room with a livelier energy, while showcasing the richly layered instrumentation that goes into their music.

After Marlay Park, lead singer Robbie Cunningham welcomes everyone to the show, telling the audience what a “special, special night” this one is, as their largest concert outside of Ireland. Gracious and visibly appreciative, it’s clear that the trio haven’t lost sight of just how far they’ve come in the last four years.

The set is a mix of old and new, as they play some unreleased songs ahead of their new record, Love and All Its Wares, in January, and dial it back to the early days. There’s a satisfying balance between looking forward and looking back, with neither side of their catalogue feeling out of place. The newer material offers a glimpse of what’s to come, as tracks like Only to Rhyme and the early album release Church Bells are still met with an enthusiastic reception, offering powerful songs with beautiful harmonies and strong backing.

As the track list goes on, the audience warm more and more to the lively atmosphere, with seated members rising for their favourite songs, and the venue often in unison with the group. Mary’s Pub is where this meets its peak, prefaced by Cunningham’s introduction, “Everywhere we go people seem to love singing along.” There are hushes in the crowd as they wait for it to start, and with each chorus the room gets louder, singing the words right back to the band. By the final verse, the whole venue is standing, singing, a testament to the collective spirit at the heart of Amble’s music.

Another new track, Last Rites, brings the concertgoers back to their feet a few beats later, clapping along with this cheery sound and strong banjo. Next, tenderly introduced as the trio’s first song, Mariner Boy creates a full-circle moment at this milestone show. It starts reflective and slow, but breaks out into a mandolin-led chorus, more celebratory, as the gig heads towards conclusion.

Heading straight into Of Land and Sea, the group pull out all the stops as they come to a close, keeping the crowd swept up in the final moments as they play their last numbers, bringing the evening to a high-spirited end.

At Brixton Academy, Amble demonstrate exactly why their music resonates so strongly beyond the recordings. Balancing the familiarity of old favourites with the promise of new material, the trio deliver a performance that feels both celebratory and sincere.

Daisy Grace Greetham
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information and future events, visit Amble’s website here.

Watch the video for The Swell here: