Cliffords bring their Irish charm to Melbourne’s Gasometer Hotel
Having built a loyal following in their native Ireland, Cliffords brought their high-energy indie rock to Melbourne for their first-ever Australian headline show at The Gasometer Hotel. From soaring anthems to heartfelt ballads, the Cork-based band made their mark on the local scene; treating fans to a set filled with originals, deep emotions, and a nod to their local influences.
Opening the night was Melbourne singer-songwriter Lotte Gallagher – a regular in the Melbourne music scene. Dancing along to opening songs Gasoline and Gray, we enjoyed our favourites with Can We Talk When It’s Over? and This Room. A welcome addition to the night, Lotte danced and sung her heart out; jumping off the stage to come dance and sing alongside the crowd. Closing tracks were popular hits Adam and Blue, and we left the set wishing to see even more. We can’t wait to see what’s next for this rising talent.
Taking the stage to cheers from the packed Gasometer crowd, Cliffords opened with R&H Hall before launching into Second Skin. Frontwoman Iona Lynch greeted the crowd with a laugh, admitting she’d gone too hard on St. Patrick’s Day and was starting to lose her voice – acknowledging the crowd will need to help sing along. Performing If the Shoe Fits reminiscing about ‘the best bar in Cork’, we delighted in hearing more tracks from their debut 2025 EP Strawberry Scented when Shattered Glass was played.
Shifting gears, Cliffords surprised the crowd with their first cover of the evening with The Cranberries’ Dreams. Before launching into it, Lynch teased, ‘You might know this one, and you can definitely sing along.’ The energy softened as the band moved into Dungarvan Bay; a deeply personal song written about a friend who passed away. The emotional weight of the track was palpable, with Lynch’s vocals carrying raw sincerity as she dedicated the song to their memory.
Breaking the heaviness, she introduced My Favourite Monster with a smirk, calling it ‘the epitome of my pettiness as a songwriter…this one is about a guy who just annoys me. He has nothing to do with me, he’s just the worst.’ Heading into the final stretch of the set, the band paused to reflect on their time in Melbourne. ‘We’ve had such an amazing time, all of us have a consensus that this is our favourite city ever,’ Lynch told the crowd before leading into Feels Like a Man, one of the highlights of the entire evening.
After powering through one final original, the band took a moment for introductions before diving into Sleeping with Ghosts. They closed the night in style with a cover of Fontaines D.C.’s Boys in the Better Land, bringing the set to an explosive finish. We hope that it won’t be long before Cliffords once again return to Australian shores.