5 Modern Irish Alt-Rock Bands You Should Definitely Know About

We love Irish rock bands—U2, The Cranberries, The Undertones, The Pogues—but what about modern Irish rock bands? Where’s the love for contemporary garage rock, alt-rock, and post-punk? Here are five modern Irish bands who fall into the alt-rock genre that you should definitely know about.

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Irish Alt-Rock Bands You Need to Know

Fontaines D.C.

After forming in Dublin and debuting in 2019, Fontaines D.C. are gaining much deserved momentum with their 2024 album Romance. The album showed up on numerous year-end lists and earned accolades from critics for its post-punk sound and sensibilities. After joining Arctic Monkeys on their 2022 tour, the Irish band was introduced to a wider audience and took the world by storm. Currently, they’re gearing up for a U.S. tour starting in April (if you’re at the Nashville show come say hi).

NewDad

NewDad formed in 2018 in Galway and put out their most recent album, Madra, in 2024. The Irish band has a typical indie rock sound but with contemporary elements that make it wholly modern. They employ distorted guitar and plucky bass on songs like “Sickly Sweet” that create a backdrop for Julie Dawson’s airy vocals. With deeply confessional lyrics and a familiar sound, NewDad is definitely one to be aware of.

Turnstiles

Also hailing from Galway, Turnstiles were active from 2019 to 2022, and while they never released a full-length album, they definitely had what it takes to make it big with punks everywhere. They were big in their local scene in Ireland, but unfortunately didn’t reach the global audience that they should have. Their explosive guitars and drums backed tough vocals from Callum Mitchell, with lyrics that hit hard and bruised harder. They remind me a bit of IDLES lite—not quite as instrumentally heavy but possessing a similar attitude. RIP Turnstiles, you would have loved playing the punk scene here.

Sprints

Sprints formed in 2019 in Dublin, releasing their debut album, Letter to Self, in 2024. They lean more garage punk, with a delightfully messy, distorted style backing darkly rich vocals from guitarist Karla Chubb. Lyrically, they skirt the line of confessional, staying relatable yet revealing and personal.

Just Mustard

Just Mustard formed in 2015 in Dundalk and released their most recent album, Heart Under, in 2022. An experimental Irish rock band, they have a dreamy sound bolstered by Katie Ball’s sweetly ethereal vocals. They’re reminiscent of a more guitar-heavy Chromatics, possessing a floaty lightness that is in turn grounded by deep, thrumming bass.

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