The Kilkenny band with music in their blood - The Donnys dream of launching on the indie scene

It was their years of playing instruments, listening to music and watching band practice that came to fruition in the formation of The Donnys.

The band’s inspiration is eclectic. They play the music they like to listen to, from blues to rock and roll and ‘a little squidge of jazz’.

They’re trying out different sounds and styles, to evolve and find their own sound because, said Johnny, they don’t want to become stale or write the same song over and over.

Gigs include some of those classics they love, but also a lot of their own music. It’s about a 50-50 split. At the Kerbdog gig, where they played a 45 minute set, they played just two covers.
“Even when we play covers, we try to put our own spin on them, with different breakdowns and solos,” Ethan said.

The band has more dates coming up. Through Scléip they have been booked to play at Tech Féile, an annual entertainment and educational event for young people. The Donnys have two gigs in March - at The Pumphouse on March 31, which will be a free gig. Before that they will play at the Presentation Arts Centre in Enniscorthy on March 25.

As to the future, most of the band members are planning to take a gap year after their Leaving Cert, and they’re “going to put the heads down” and concentrate on the band.

Johnny admitted there is only so much they can do in a year, but they would like to get more music recorded and play more gigs. They have their heads set at the indie tour scene venues of Cypress Avenue and Fred Zeppelins in Cork, the Roisín Dubh in Galway, and the Sound House, Grand Social and even Whelan’s in Dublin.

Check out The Donnys recent single Cruising the Cut on Spotify and Soundcloud. You can also find them at TheDonnys on YouTube and @TheDonnysBand on Instagram.