Fresh from the news that they’ll be heading down to Worth Farm in June to play Glastonbury Festival’s Avalon Stage earlier this week, rising Irish indie-folk band Kingfishr have released their beautifully melodic new single Afterglow.
The latest track is a stunningly wrought composition over which frontman Eddie Keogh sings in an affecting falsetto “I love the ethereal nature of falsetto vocals,” he explains. “I grew up with Bon Iver, he definitely did play a huge role in developing my ear.”
Kingfishr
Afterglow is decidedly different in tone from previous releases, and is, perhaps, the song that best captures the enigmatic quality of Kingfishr’s sound. “I find music is one of those last places where there’s a bit of magic,” Keogh says. “Where things aren’t explained away. And I love the idea of not knowing how the magic trick is done.”
The trio of Keogh alongside Eoghan “McGoo” McGrath and Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon quickly recorded Afterglow after it was written and ended up keeping the demo as the final version. “The song is a culmination of subconscious recording, No real thought went into what was being played or recorded, it was all instinctual,” they said, “The purity of that is quite beautiful to us.”
Listen to Afterglow below:
Speaking on the concept behind the track, the band said: “So much of your time growing up can be wasted in pursuit of people who you think you love but they don’t feel the same way. You give them everything and lay your heart on the floor for them, but they don’t reciprocate that feeling and can unintentionally hurt you because of this. It’s easy in hindsight to say you should have known better, but in the moment you’re blinded and you don’t notice all that time you’re wasting.”
As already mentioned, the trio were also announced to play at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival this week saying that they feel “Lost for words and eternally grateful” for the opportunity. “We’d need a week to sum up everything we’re feeling. Having spent the last two years playing on a farm in Tipperary, it’s an enormous privilege and an honour to be asked to play at a slightly less prestigious farm across the sea.”
Formed while members Eddie (vocals, guitar), McGoo (banjo), and Fitz (bass) were studying engineering at university in Limerick, the Irish trio lean into their heritage with traditional instruments and poetic songwriting. Kingfishr’s music is hugely cinematic, they pride themselves on deep textures and a grand sonic atmospheric nature, with influences ranging from Hanz Zimmer to Ben Howard. They have racked up over 20 million streams on Spotify to date, with three of their previous releases being performed on The Independent’s live music session Music Box – check it out below:
Kingfishr spent the summer of 2023 supporting established musicians including world-famous rock legend Bruce Springsteen at BST. They have also had support slots for George Ezra’s UK / Ireland tour as well as Dermot Kennedy’s Limerick shows at Thomond Park & in Dublin at Marlay Park. Alongside this were a run of festival dates that included Electric Picnic (main stage), Neighbourhood Weekender, Live At Leeds, Latitude, All Points East, Sea Sessions & Indiependence. They have also appeared on BBC Introducing Belfast and performed on Irish TV Series Other Voices.
Kingfishr
The trio have started the year strongly, a festival performance at Eurosonic was quickly followed by eight sold out headline shows across the UK and Ireland. The tour concluded with two shows at The Olympia Theatre in Ireland, a live recording of which will be available on the 7th June. Kingfishr have been announced as the support act for Tom Walker’s upcoming 14 date tour as well as for Snow Patrol’s show at Thomond Park Stadium, in July. That same weekend will see them make their debut appearance at TRNSMT Festival in Scotland. As well as Glastonbury, Kingfishr will also be making their debut performance at Isle of Wight and Reading & Leeds festivals this summer, so be sure to check ’em out!
APRIL (Tom Walker Support)
18th – The Great Hall, Cardiff
19th – O2 Academy, Bristol
20th – Octagon Centre, Sheffield
23rd – Ulster Hall, Belfast
25th – O2 Academy, Birmingham
26th – Manchester Academy, Manchester
27th – Manchester Academy, Manchester
29th – O2 Academy, Leeds
30th – O2 Academy, Glasgow
MAY (Tom Walker Support)
1st – O2 Academy, Glasgow
3rd – City Hall, Newcastle
5th – UEA LCR, Norwich
6th – Rock City, Nottingham
7th – Eventim Apollo, London
JUNE
20th – 23rd – Isle Of Wight Festival
26th – 30th – Glastonbury Festival
JULY
12th – Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick City (Snow Patrol Support)
14th – TRNSMT Festival, Glasgow
AUGUST
23rd – Leeds Festival, Leeds
25th – Reading Festival, Reading
Glastonbury Festival’s Field Of Avalon Announces 2024 Line-Up
Share Thing