The Scratch

Dublin’s The Scratch bring their acoustic fire to O2 Forum Kentish Town, London on 5 February 2027. Formed by former members of metal band Red Enemy, the quartet channels hardcore energy through unplugged instruments: fast-picked acoustic guitars, tight hand percussion and chanted harmonies. Their sound leans into Irish folk, punk and rock, built on pulse and groove but anchored in clear, song-led writing.

The band first surfaced with informal videos that spread across the Irish scene, then grew through steady club tours in Ireland and the UK. On stage, they work in sharp dynamic shifts and collective vocals, moving from hushed phrases to driving, percussive passages without losing focus. The set draws across their catalogue, from the early EP Old Songs (2018) and The Whole Buzz (2019) to the album Couldn’t Give A Rats (2020), where their hybrid approach settled into shape, and Mind Yourself (2023), which pushed the vocal arrangements and rhythmic interplay further.

Four players, no frills, plenty of interplay: The Scratch keep it direct and physical, letting rhythm, melody and voices carry the room.