Emerging from Cork’s world-beating scene, Cliffords are swiftly establishing themselves as one of the island’s most promising new bands. The five-piece alternative rock outfit features Iona Lynch (vocals), Daniel Ryan (drums), Harry Menton (guitar), Locon O’Toole (keys and synth), and Gavin Dawkins (multi-instrumentalist).
Having played their first gig in 2022, they’ve already hit major milestones, including being handpicked by Dermot Kennedy for the line-up of Misneach, his St. Patrick’s Day festival in Sydney, where they’ll perform alongside Sorcha Richardson, Susan O’Neill, The Scratch and more.
Following their debut at Other Voices, Ciara Byrne caught up with the band in Dick Mack’s pub in Dingle to talk about Misneach, their roots and Cork’s ever-thriving scene.
Photos by Erin Plaice
Can you tell me a bit about how you met, how you started playing together and why you create music?
Iona: When we started, it was me and Dan originally, and a few others. The lads watched Sing Street and they were like, “Oh we gotta start a band”, so Dan bought a drum kit. Dan and Gav went to school in Ballincollig [in Cork] and I went to a different school in Ballincollig, so we all met up there.
We’ve been kind of going since we were 15, but 2022 was our first gig. It was just the three of us, and then Locon came in a year ago. But Sing Street’s kind of like the main inspiration.
Tell me about the music scene in Cork and how it’s influenced you as a band and the music that you make.
It’s such a supportive scene. We’ve talked about it before. We’re really good friends with everyone in the scene. Pebbledash are some of our closest friends.
When we were growing up we went to see The Love Buzz and they were just like our gods, we were so inspired by them. We did shows with Cardinals when they first started off and with Pebbledash and Mirrors.
So it’s nice now to see people are all coming up together. It’s just a nice alternative scene. There’s less competition and more competition in another way. It’s friendly competition, it’s healthy. There aren’t too many clashing genres.
Everyone’s trying to do their own thing. A lot of the support slots were very funny because it was just like all the genres in one. And the next week, it’d be like the same line-up but in a different order.
Locon: My second gig with you, there were two metal bands on the bill. There was a metal band, then us, and another metal band. That was crazy.
Is that a real mixed audience then?
Iona: Yeah, it was a weird one, alright. That was so funny as well because my guitar broke and I had to play a metal guitar. I was playing girly songs on a huge metal guitar and it was just really distorted.
Do you have a highlight or a standout moment from your gigs so far as a band?
Iona: There’s been so many in the last couple of days. Today (Other Voices) was really good. The Button Factory for Ireland Music Week was amazing. There was just something in the air that night. Every time we play Cyprus Avenue, it’s just a bit different. Our last Cyprus show was incredible. We never thought we’d sell it out. Because that was our dream venue to play growing up.
That was like our peak. And then we sold it out. It felt like a milestone. After working so hard to get here, two years on, we sold it out.
Dermot Kennedy picked you to play at Misneach, a St. Patrick’s Day festival he’s putting on in Sydney. Can you tell me about what it was like to get chosen for the line-up?
Iona: Yeah, that was crazy! Locon and I were in the studio writing in London. It was a basement studio and we were hungover and we were having a really hard day. Tara, our manager gave us a call and she was like, you’re not gonna believe it.
Gavin: I come in from work exhausted and look at my phone and the guys told me to answer Tara’s next phone call.
Iona: Dan and I were up at Ireland Music Week and we couldn’t tell anyone. We’d known for like three months at this point, and we couldn’t tell anyone.
It’s just surreal. I still can’t believe it. And he’s so nice, I think it’s such a nice thing for him to do. The festival has such a strong Irish line up, it’s crazy.
Can you tell me about what’s in store for the future for Cliffords?
Iona: Next year there are lots of festivals, lots of fun, and a new EP. Big things are coming. And Sydney, obviously! We’ve got some secrets. It’s all music-related anyway, we’ll say that much.
Any final words from Cliffords?
All: Shout out to everyone who’s supported us for the last two years. And stream our new acoustic version of the Strawberry Sessions EP.
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