In 2015, the Johnson siblings began making music in their family home on Northern Ireland’s rugged north coast.
Within a few years they went from playing their local pub in the sleepy village of Castlerock to securing a record deal and playing festival stages all over the UK and Ireland. After meeting drummer Luke Harris and lead guitarist Aaron Milligan in a Portrush pub (then performing as their own two-piece band), it seemed inevitable the five would unite, completing the line-up almost by accident.
No strangers to Ireland’s buzzing live scene, Brand New Friend have been making waves with some incendiary live shows across the island. Their honest indie-pop has taken them from sticky-floored venues to sold-out festivals including Reading and Leeds, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Electric Picnic. Following the release of their debut album ‘Seatbelts for Aeroplanes’ in 2018, they’ve hit the road in support of Snow Patrol, Lewis Capaldi, Ash, Starcrawler, At The Drive In, RAT BOY and Feeder.
Along the way, Brand New Friend have garnered support from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Gemma Bradley, Tom Robinson, John Kennedy, Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart, receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1, Radio X and BBC 6 Music. In 2020, the band released EP ‘A Cure For Living’ and signed with Third Bar artist development, the brainchild of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody. Their sophomore record is on the way.
TICKETS
€14.90 available online from Whelan’s.
– 50c per ticket service charge applies on all bookings. Final ticket price may be higher from other outlets.
Whelan’s Indie Club w/ Late Bar from 10:30pm or check out the bands playing The Midnight Hour in the upstairs venue – Free Entry via front door until 10:30pm | Drinks Promos
