Gig review: Cliffords at The Bodega

Cliffords have only been releasing music since last year, with their debut EP Strawberry Scented making waves. But it was their recent single Bittersweet that truly put them on the map, with critics and music fans alike heralding them the “next great guitar band to emerge from Ireland”.

Support act Bold Love might just be another name on that list of great guitar bands emerging from Ireland. Hailing further North East than Cliffords’ native city of Cork, the Dublin-based outfit (formerly known as Big Love before a name change last year) started their set with two familiar tracks from their existing discography: Is It Over Yet and Lily. 

Enigmatic frontman Cian Ó Maonlaí was an instant crowd pleaser, engaging the audience with his stage presence by leaning towards us off the edge of the stage to capture our attention, making the most of the space available to him in the small venue. Elsewhere, keys player Megan Nic Ruairí proved herself to be hugely talented, standing out during multiple moments throughout the set and driving each song forward with momentum. 

Leaving the stage with an endearing “Love youse!”, Bold Love certainly made an impression on the audience. And the main event - Cliffords - would go on to do just the same. The aforementioned Bittersweet wouldn’t come until the end of the set, but throughout a performance that clocked in at just under an hour, the band showed they’ve got a lot more up their sleeves than just one song. 

Tracks from their debut EP, Strawberry Scented, would prove to be just as epic in the live setting - particularly Second Skin and Shattered Glass, which both featured prominent trumpet moments from Gavin Dawkins, an element that really brings a new dimension to the band’s music. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Iona Lynch was as charismatic as ever, dancing around the stage without this affecting her vocal performance in the slightest. 

She did admit to that she was losing her voice a little bit from an intense week of touring, but that didn’t seem to affect her vocal ability, either. Her voice was commanding throughout the set, particularly during moments where her Irish accent crept through, such as during the song If The Shoe Fits - which came early on in the set. 

The band then debuted an unreleased song from their upcoming second EP, titled My Favourite Monster: “It’s about a guy from Cork who has done nothing wrong to me, but I hate him!” Iona laughed. She then took a moment to show love to one of Nottingham’s own (and finest), admitting that Divorce are one of her favourite bands right now - “If anyone knows Divorce, tell them I say hello,” she requested. 

When she warned the crowd that only two songs remained, a collective groan rose from the audience. However, with the first of these being Bittersweet and the latter being their most popular track to date Sleeping With Ghosts, no one could complain. Falling to the ground at the end of the set in a heap of laughter, Iona’s joy filled the room and everyone in the crowd - from those who were there to give a new band who are gaining traction a chance, to those who already knew every word - was swept up in the moment. 

While there is a strong sense that this is only the start for Cliffords, there’s absolutely no doubt that it was a very strong start indeed. Who knows what heights their upcoming second EP will reach, but it’s undeniable that they are well deserving of the hype they are currently receiving. 

Cliffords performed at The Bodega on 16th April 2025, with support from Bold Love. You can read our interview with Iona from Cliffords here.

@cliffordsband