The Scratch

Dublin four-piece The Scratch fuse Irish folk’s pulse with the bite of punk and metal, swapping distortion for fast-strummed acoustics, tight percussion and gang vocals. A viral festival clip in 2017 pushed the project into a new gear, leading to Mind Yourself (2023), which debuted at #1 on the Irish Vinyl Chart, hit #3 on the IRMA Weekly Album Chart and earned a Choice Music Prize nomination. Since then, the band has picked up BBC Radio support and slipped onto screens via Steven Knight’s House of Guinness.

Their new chapter orbits a rallying cry borrowed from Olympic rowers: Pull Like A Dog. Released via Sony Music Ireland, this third album sharpens their acoustic/electric blend and channels a headspace of openness, perseverance and momentum. Live, that mix turns physical: Daniel “Lango” Lang drives the set on cajón, percussion and lead vocals, while Conor Dockery’s guitar and backing vocals lock with the twin acoustic attack and chanted hooks. Fresh from US dates with Dropkick Murphys, festival stages across Europe, a run supporting Dermot Kennedy and a stop at Download, The Scratch bring the new songs and fan favourites to Monroe’s Tavern in Galway, Ireland, on 25 September 2026. The lineup: Conor Dockery, Cathal McKenna, Daniel Lang and Gary Regan.