Since forming in Cork in 2024, Smithereens have quickly established themselves as one of Ireland’s most exciting emerging live bands. Blending sophisticated jazz harmony with angular guitar work, grunge energy and irresistible grooves, the five-piece have built a devoted following through electrifying performances and a sound that refuses to sit comfortably within one genre.
Following the release of their acclaimed debut album Emergency Entrance in 2024, Smithereens have sold out headline shows across Ireland while steadily expanding their audience overseas.
Their growing reputation has seen them perform at venues including St. Luke’s in Cork, The Kino and London’s Next Door Records, alongside appearances at festivals including Forbidden Fruit, Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Féile Solas and Clonakilty International Guitar Festival. Their unique sound has also earned coverage from outlets including Banjaxed Media and NuMuze.
Their latest single, ‘Road 3,‘ captures everything that makes Smithereens so compelling. Built from a spontaneous late-night jam between five close friends, the track effortlessly fuses funk, jazz, rock and grunge into a swaggering, infectious groove. Anchored by an instantly addictive rhythm section, silky vocal melodies and explosive guitar work, ‘Road 3’ balances playful charm with moments of genuine intensity.
The band described their new single as:
“Road 3 was born of a late-night jam between five best friends. It’s probably the best example of our mix of genres and influences, blending funk, jazz, rock and grunge. Like a lot of our favourite songs, it started with no real plan beyond sitting in the groove and seeing where it took us. The result is a danceable track that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still hits hard when it needs to. The hook, ‘Are you ok to drive?’, sticks with you long after the song ends, and Gavin’s guitar playing really shines throughout.”
Recorded and produced at Wavefield Studios in West Cork by Sarah and Brian, ‘Road 3′ serves as the lead single from Smithereens’ upcoming sophomore EP, Shapeshift which will be out August 23rd. The record marks another significant step forward for the band, capturing what they feel is the definitive Smithereens sound: a fearless collision of jazz-rock, grunge and alternative music that feels equally at home alongside artists like King Krule, Esmerelda Road, Bowie, Radiohead and even the heavier textures of Alice in Chains.
To celebrate the release, Smithereens will embark on an ambitious run of twelve Irish dates before taking their music to audiences across the UK and Germany later this year. Highlights include an EP launch show at Sonflour in Cork on August 23, an appearance at Electric Picnic on August 28, headline dates in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Belfast, before travelling to London’s Next Door Records and a run of UK and German shows in November and December.
With ‘Road 3’, Smithereens continue to prove why they’re becoming one of Ireland’s most talked-about new bands—combining technical musicianship, infectious song-writing and the kind of chemistry that can only come from five friends creating music together.
Upcoming Live Dates
July 18 – LIAS Festival, Cork
July 18 – Bank Lane Summer Block Party, Waterford
August 23 – Shapeshift EP Launch, Sonflour, Cork
August 28 – Electric Picnic
September 4 – Dolan’s, Limerick
September 11 – DeBarra’s, Clonakilty
September 24 – The Grand Social, Dublin
September 25 – Monroe’s, Galway
September 26 – The Watchtower, Drogheda
October 2 – Mike the Pies, Listowel
October 3 – Pot Duggan’s, Co. Clare
October 9 – Belfast (TBA)
October 10 – The Vic, Tramore
October 16 – Coughlan’s, Cork
November 12 – Next Door Records, London
November 13–15 – UK Tour (TBA)
December 5 – Freundlich + Kompetent, Hamburg
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