Cardinals + Guests 7:30pm, Wednesday 2nd September, Bedford Esquires Cardinals are a thinking person’s band. Their sound, on paper, isn’t ripping up any rule books or straying too far from any guitar-band stylistic norms. But there’s something in the way that the five members – built on familial ties and life-long friendships – convey their music that feels unique and complex; of greater depth than when it first appears. Originally hailing from Kinsale, now relocated to Cork, the quintet – brothers Euan and Finn, their cousin Darragh and childhood friends Oskar and Aaron – are the latest formidable artistic force hailing from Ireland. Following in the footsteps of now globally acclaimed bands like The Murder Capital and Fontaines D.C. (who they supported at their huge Finsbury Park day festival last summer), the lads are flying their nation’s flag, merging colourings of Irish traditionalism into a palette of edgy post-punk and intricate art-rock. With Masquerade , their debut album via So Young Records, the band proved that they’re well worth their sizeable hype. Recorded with Shrink at RAK Studios, the body of work walks a concise, conceptual double-crossing – a classic, tasteful dichotomy of dark and light. The cover art embodies it – the icy, moribund nature on top and the blood red, religiously suggestive passion below. The sonics, distorted and daring, ameliorated by Finn’s wonderful accordion, grow darker the further the album unfolds – from tender and anxious vulnerability towards flirtations of a fiery fury as the climax approaches. Such is mirrored in frontman Euan’s songwriting choices – depicting tales of tenderness and violence alike, an impressive and poetic portfolio of inner musings that stitch together a tapestry of emotions. Tickets on sale now

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