Love, loss and melodies: Limerick band is quickly taking the indie-folk scene by storm

IN A medieval venue in Newcastle West, ‘summered words and lessons’ learned echoed through the halls. As Limerick trio KingFishr made their Other Voices debut, they performed a goosebump inducing set for the pleasure of an intimate crowd.

In less than a year, the trio has been making waves in the indie folk scene. In September 2022, they released their first single, Eyes Don’t Lie. Last week, they announced they’ll be supporting Dermot Kennedy in Thomond Park this July.

Eddie, McGoo and Fitz met while studying engineering in UL To “disassemble the contemporary experience,” they collided to join the revival of the Irish folk music scene.

As they make a circle with folded chairs just after their performance, the “wannabe songbirds” feel like they have just accomplished something important.

Bass and concertina player, Fitz, points out it’s a strange experience while his bandmates nod in agreement. “Sometimes it's easier to play in front of lots of people than to play in front of a small crowd. It can be quite daunting. But that out there was amazing. It felt like something quite important.”

“It’s Other Voices, which is iconic in Ireland and to get to feel that one, it’s something I think we all thoroughly enjoyed.”

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A week before their final exams, the three-piece released their debut single, Flowers Fire and as they stepped out of the last exam, they were told they would be supporting Hermitage Green in front of a crowd of 4,000. Since then, things have been moving fast – and at times, the musicians are lost for words.

Do they ever feel overwhelmed?

In unison, Eddie and Fitz agree: “All the time, always”. According to Fitz, McGoo is the “one holding them together”.

But the banjo player doesn’t feel overwhelmed.

“It comes in waves, I suppose. We’re busy, and sometimes I'm stressed, but I wouldn’t say overwhelmed,” he notes.

However, Eddie adds: “I’m so overwhelmed that I've taken up running. I don’t know,” he pauses. “These things don't happen.”

Speaking of the big Dermot Kennedy announcement, the singer and guitarist says: “I'm pretty much lost for words at this point. The English language was not designed to describe such feelings.”

He notes: “I think you've gotta back yourself with these things, and believe that it can happen. But the turnaround time has just been so quick. I'm just kind of struggling to wrap my head around it.”

On April 28, the band released their third single, titled Anyway, which touches on love, loss and melodies.

With Eddie and Fitz both on vocal duties, the song almost sounds like a ballad as it first calls for Hannah. But once the chorus hits, McGoo joins the party with wizardly notes on the banjo.

“It’s a big one for us, it was written a few months ago. All these songs, they're all about past relationships or past things that have left us with strong emotional feelings. There’s such strong emotions involved, so we kind of like to give a vague answer and leave people to find whatever they can of themselves on them,” notes Fitz.

During their gigs, KingFishr always play a song which has not yet been released.

“It's coming, we just want to get it right. We don’t want to release something that we don't feel lives up to how it makes us feel when we play live. I think it would be doing a disservice to the song,” Eddie explains.

Before going on stage, they have a little ritual. “We sing a rendition of Four Nine. McGoo only knows the verses, and myself and Eddie will layer the chorus, and it gets everyone rattled up,” Fitz shares.

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With more releases coming in, could an EP be expected?

“Sometimes in a few moons. Watch the moons, we have plans. Summer’s going to be big,” Fitz smiles.

After entering the music industry, what is one lesson they have learned the hard way? “Trust your gut, trust your instincts. There's a lot of voices all the time giving you advice to tell you what to do. And none of it is bad I suppose, but sometimes it can lead you off a little bit,” says Fitz.

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In McGoo’s homeplace, which was built in the 1840s, the trio are used to living together. Over the past couple of months, they have done their fair share of traveling and room-sharing.

Who snores? Eddie laughs: “There was this one night in Belfast, it sounded like a nuclear submarine was passing by the hotel room”.

If one thing is clear, it’s that the humble trio will never take anything for granted.

Fitz concludes: “We have no words for half of this. You’ve caught us at a terrible time. Could you just put in the Limerick Leader that KingFishr has no words?”