The Scratch

Formed in Dublin in the late 2010s, The Scratch channel their hardcore past into an acoustic setup that stays sharp and rhythmic. The quartet leans into Irish folk, punk and rock, swapping distortion for fast-picked acoustic guitars, dry percussion and rough-edged group vocals. Songs move between tight hooks and percussive drive, keeping a direct, communal feel while holding onto traditional songwriting instincts. Early homemade videos helped the band find an audience across Ireland and the UK, before steady touring shaped a live set built on dynamics, call-and-response and close-knit harmonies.

Their discography traces that shift in detail: the EP Old Songs (2018) and The Whole Buzz (2019) set the tone; Couldn’t Give A Rats (2020) locks in the balance between ballad form and the tension inherited from metal; Mind Yourself (2023) digs deeper into collective vocals and sharp changes in intensity without losing the raw, in-the-room sound of four players pushing together. The Scratch bring this approach to Lee’s Palace in Toronto on May 13, 2026.