Briars - Irish Artist Of The Week

Cork City based indie-folk band BRIARS releaser their high-octane new single, ‘Roimh’. With a sound that ranges from fragile subtlety to raucous energy, BRIARS weave shades of alternative folk, indie, pop, rock and Irish traditional music that combine into a sprawling and irresistibly energetic sound. Having shared bills with groups such as The Scratch, The Wran, Leevy and Billow Wood and performing at some of the country’s leading folk festivals (Whelan’s Folk and Trad Fest, Galway Folk Festival, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Cork Roots Festival) alongside Electric Picnic and more, the six-piece are quickly gaining “must-see” status as a live act. With touches of Arcade Fire, Bear’s Den, Hudson Taylor and The Riptide Movement, upcoming single ‘Roimh’ (the Irish word for ‘before’, pronounced ‘Riv’) is a song rooted in perseverance. Celebrating the kinetic energy and momentum that is born from hope and human connection, the single doesn’t linger on endings, but on the beauty of the build-up itself; embracing the journey regardless of the outcome. The band explain: “The idea is that even if things don’t go as planned, or something ends badly, that it does not negate the time that was spent trying to get there. It would be easy to think “what’s the point in doing something if it’s just going to end anyway?”, but it would take us no where.” They add: “It is partly about the struggle to achieve certain things, and trying to have the persistence to keep going; whether it’s moving on from a relationship that doesn’t end well, or the devastation after someone has passed away, but you’re looking back fondly on all the memories. The bad at the end doesn’t discount the good that came before.” Dashed with the band’s signature Irish traditional feel, the song features an array of instruments - bouzouki, bass, drums, piano, harmonium, synth, fiddle and accordion - which captures their ability to bridge old and new with ease.