THEATRE

 release debut EP 'Incarnate'

Out now via BMG / ECHO

EP HERE

“This band stands out because they've got a singer, Maeve O’Shea, with a gigantic and unreal voice that recalls past Irish greats like Sinéad O'Connor and Dolores O'Riordan” Stereogum

“THEATRE have wasted absolutely no time becoming one of the most exciting new bands emerging from Ireland right now” Dork Magazine

“An important new voice from Ireland’s alternative music landscape” So Young

“THEATRE are on a mission to prove that the future of alternative music is in safe hands” DIY Magazine

“Potent songwriting moves between early Slowdive and cult New Yorkers Asobi Seksu” Clash

Irish risers THEATRE release debut EP ’Incarnate’, out today (June 12th) via BMG / ECHO.

Fresh from an acclaimed debut appearance at Brighton’s The Great Escape Festival and support run alongside Bleech 9:3, the Limerick newcomers recently announced their debut UK headline tour for the autumn, and are primed to build on their phenomenal wave of momentum circulating since the arrival of EP lead singles ‘The Fall’ and ‘You Are’ in the spring.

Fast becoming figureheads of Ireland’s emerging music scene, the five-piece, made up of Dara Gooney, Oscar Halpin, Gerry Sheil and Sean Storan, have whipped up a storm of excitement through gorgeous, emotive melodies and the stunning vocals of lead singer, Maeve O’Shea. Counting press champions such as Stereogum, NME, DIY, So Young, The Line Of Best Fit, Dork, Clash and Wonderland amongst their growing fanbase, the group have already received multiple spins across the BBC Radio 1 (Sian Eleri, Alyx Holcombe), BBC Radio 2 (Jo Whiley), BBC 6 Music (Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Deb Grant, Nathan Shepherd), Apple Music (Matt Wilkinson) and Radio X (John Kennedy) airwaves to plenty of fanfare.

Now based in Dublin, the group’s debut EP (incl. focus track ‘Gaudete’ (video here)) focuses on memories from their time in Limerick. The quintet allowed the city to shape them, often through dark times, and these experiences clearly bleed through in their music. Just as certain tracks reflect on the people who left a mark on their lives, ‘Incarnate’ as a whole serves as an understated ode to the imprint Limerick made on them.

Readying themselves for a busy period on the festival circuit, THEATRE are gearing up to capitalise on early slots with English Teacher, Shame and Westside Cowboy, as well as their own London sell-outs (Third Man & Elephant’s Head), and will be playing alongside contemporaries such as Wunderhorse and Lewis Capaldi across the summer months.

Detailing the origins of their debut EP, enigmatic frontwoman O’Shea revealed: ‘Incarnate’ as a body of work feels like the physical embodiment of what our band has been for us over the past few years. These are some of the first songs that we wrote together, but they have gone through an evolution of their own after touring them for so long. They follow a theme of a changing-like person, someone who has two sides to them, but as a whole this EP is a presentation of our work finally in the flesh, real and ready. We’ve waited a long time to bring them out to the world in their truest form.”

Discussing the accompanying focus track ‘Gaudete’, she added: “‘Gaudete’ was written in the early days of the band. At the time I was listening to a lot of English and Irish folk music, and Steeleye Span was one of the most prominent inspirations. In their album ‘Below the Salt’ they recorded a rendition of Gaudete, a 16th century Christmas hymn - I heard the melody entangled in a guitar melody that Dara brought to a rehearsal and was determined that the two could be married together. The result was an original song that references the choral aspects of the ancient ‘Gaudete’ and plays with a dark lyrical theme to contrast the Latin meaning behind the word, rejoice or be joyful.”

THEATRE’s ‘Incarnate’ (EP) is out now via BMG / ECHO and available on all digital platforms.

THEATRE is

Maeve O’Shea (vocals), Oscar Halpin (guitar), Dara Gooney (guitar), Gerry Sheil (bass), Sean Storan (drums)

THEATRE

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Live Dates

14 JUN - Beyond The Pale Festival, Drummin (IE

)26 JUN - Thomond Park, Limerick w/ Lewis Capaldi (IE)

25 JUL - Deer Shed Festival, Topcliffe (UK)

26 JUL - Truck Festival, Oxfordshire (UK)

8 AUG - Absolutely Free Festival, Genk (BE)

29 AUG - Rock N Roll Circus, Sheffield w/ Wunderhorse (UK)5 OCT - The Castle, Manchester (UK)

6 OCT - The Lexington, London (UK)

7 OCT - The Louisiana / The Croft, Bristol (UK)

9 OCT - Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield (UK)12 OCT - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (UK)

13 OCT - Voodoo Daddys, Norwich (UK)

14 OCT - Heartbreakers, Southampton (UK)

15-17 OCT - Sŵn Festival, Cardiff (UK)

17 DEC - The Academy, Dublin w/ Blondshell (IE)