Review: Amble deliver heartfelt set in Cork's Marquee

It was another win for the Irish music scene this week in Cork as folk-trio Amble performed to a sold-out Marquee.

Amble brought their rising folk sound to Cork’s Live at the Marquee on Thursday evening, delivering a stripped-back, heartfelt set that connected strongly with the audience.

Following on from Kingfishr the night before, the band had big shoes to fill, and if the roars of the crowd were anything to go by, they did so in spades.

The trio—Robbie Cunningham, Oisín McCaffrey, and Ross McNerney—had the Marquee singing along from the very start as they immediately set a quiet and reflective tone.

Their style is minimal but effective: acoustic guitar, mandolin, and banjo layered under tight three-part harmonies. While their songs rarely build to big moments, they don’t need to—the strength lies in their lyrics and delivery.

The same could be said for the crowd that lined the tent on the night, swapping fake tanned legs and short shorts for jeans and jumpers, the audience had a level of maturity that added to the nostalgic atmosphere.

Lonely Island stood out, with the crowd softly singing along to the chorus, creating one of the night’s most memorable moments. Mariner Boy and For the Day followed with the same emotional weight. 

Between songs, Cunningham shared light stories and joked about the meanings behind each of the songs that he and his bandmates have penned.

Unlike other bands, it wasn’t just the frontman who addressed the crowd, with musicians McCaffrey and McNerney chatting to the audience between songs like they were speaking with old friends.

It was moments like that—honest and low-key—that helped the band feel relatable.

Their gratitude for the support was evident as they told the crowd that this performance was their sixtieth of the year and the largest Irish show that they had played to date.

The show came to close with Mary’s Pub, and Swansong a clear crowd favourite, and finished to strong applause. While the set never reached high drama, it didn’t need to. Amble know what kind of band they are, and they play to those strengths.

Next to take to the Marquee stage is The Mary Wallopers, followed by Cork’s own Cian Ducrot for a double bill and a return from Limerick-based trio Kingfishr, a feast of Irish folk and faces for this year’s festival.