Cardinals

On 28 October 2026 at La Maroquinerie, Cardinals will be on to promote Masquerade, their debut album crafted north of Cork. It’s a record that moves by contrasts, sliding from darkness to light and back again, between taut hope and cold indifference. On stage, these shifts take the form of slow buildups and sharp breaks, without any ostentation.

Born of family and friendship ties, the quintet brings together brothers Euan (vocals, guitar) and Finn Manning (accordion), their cousin Darragh (drums, percussion), and their former classmates Oskar Gudinovic (guitar) and Aaron Hurley (bass). Having started from straightforward post‑punk, they have stretched their vocabulary toward a melancholic indie rock nourished by shoegaze, Irish folk, gothic hues, a gravelly Britpop and touches of hip‑hop. The accordion, positioned at the center, imparts an immediately recognizable sonic signature.

In Paris, Cardinals present this evolution without denying the drive of their early work: veiled guitars, nervous rhythms, taut basslines and melodies that take their time. Masquerade marks a sidestep—wider songwriting, less fixed on its initial influences. A set where tension sits beside melody, propelled by that accordion which cuts through the guitar landscape.