They talk about it with affection. The Kings Arms is where the band formed their ideas about music, friendship and what it means to build something together. It is also where they still return when they can. Even now, when rehearsals and gigs pull them across the region, they find themselves conducting their rendezvous over a pint at their booth in ‘The Kings’.

Pride for their roots shines through them, they love the place where they grew up together, and went on to write their first songs. Their bond runs deep, shaped by long friendships and family ties within the group. Todd Gilronan leads on vocals, joined by Elliott Plance on lead guitar, Kieran Reading on rhythm guitar, Freddie Clarke on bass and Felix Randall on drums. Around them sits a wider support system that includes manager John Clarke, Russ at Sonar Presents, PT Sounds who handle their live sound and Sound Factory Magazine who have supported their bookings. Off stage, they speak warmly about their families, who have kept them going through the more difficult stretches.

The first Kabins gig was in April 2022, held in the skittles alley of a pub they had been drinking in long before they were technically allowed through the door. The show sold out, and things started to really takeoff. The band were signed by Ciggy Sound, and spent the following couple of years touring.

The Kabins are equal parts rock grit and boy-band flair. Their sound pairs gritty intensity with flashes of playfulness, and you can hear their ambition in every note they play. The indie rocks are also entertainers, in the best sense. Romantic, dramatic, loud and fun! In a scene that sometimes leans towards understatement, The Kabins are refreshingly upfront. 

Spend time with their recent releases and you start to hear that push and pull between polished and unrestrained. The boys described ‘Penelope’ as their ‘turning point’. ‘Penelope’ has mood and tension, with guitars that are big, full-bodied, moving at such a slow burn it’s almost psychedelic soul. Debuting it at the Dublin Castle, the crowd were silent from start to finish, then erupted at the last chord. ‘It felt like a collective acceptance of the direction our music is heading.’ – The Kabins. ‘Whisper’ is equally designed for a live crowd – but it’s brighter, faster. It’s for a packed room, arms up, sweat on the ceiling

At the centre of it all is Todd’s voice – expressive and unafraid of leaning into vulnerability. The band speak about writing from lived experience, about relationships, growing up and navigating that in-between space where you’re not kids anymore but you’re still figuring it out.