The Scratch
Four acoustic guitars played like a metal band — Dublin lads with thrash in their hands, trad in their bones and a filthy sense of humour.
The Scratch formed in Perrystown, Dublin, in 2016, when three members of the metal band Red Enemy, Jordan O'Leary, Daniel Lang and Conor Dockery, regrouped as an acoustic outfit and were joined by bassist Cathal McKenna. The metal and hardcore backgrounds stayed audible even after the electric guitars were swapped out.
Two or three acoustic guitars work at once, one holding a riff while another picks out a reel or jig figure over the top, with percussion and vocals arriving in bursts rather than running through every track. A good portion of the set is instrumental.
Their debut album, Couldn't Give a Rats, came out in 2020, followed by Mind Yourself in 2023, which was nominated for the Choice Music Prize. Bassist Peter Keogh, an original member, left in 2022 and was replaced by McKenna.
Jordan O'Leary departed the band in December 2024 after eight years and was replaced on guitar by Gary Regan. Live, the band talks between songs as much as it plays, and the slagging and storytelling remain as much a part of a Scratch set as the tunes.
The Scratch at a glance
Where is The Scratch from?
The Scratch is from Dublin, IE.
What kind of music does The Scratch play?
The Scratch is tagged folk metal, acoustic and Irish.
What festivals has The Scratch played before?
The Scratch has played Electric Picnic 2026.
Also on these bills
The StunningThe Mary WallopersThe Saw DoctorsDarren KielyAltanDamien DempseyDenise ChailaDordánMaighread & Tríona Ní DhomhnaillDónal Lunny, Máirtín O’Connor & Zoë ConwayCardinalsHermitage Green
More folk metal acts
More artists from Dublin, IE
CMATFontaines D.C.BricknastyGurriersBelters OnlyDamien DempseyEleanor McEvoyJay PryorJohn Francis FlynnLe BoomM(h)aolMik Pyro
Find acts like The Scratch at upcoming festivals
Start the finder with The Scratch already in the box and see which acts on a lineup fit the same taste.
