FULL INTERVIEW: ‘Barrfite’ breaks out at Electric Picnic

Keep an eye (or rather, an ear) out folks, because this band could be Ireland’s next best rock and roll export.

Barrfite is a band made up of: lead singer Harry Maloney, 19, from Stradbally in County Laois (near the border of County Kildare); guitarist Adam Hughes, 19, from Clarehall, County Dublin; bassist James Moriarty-Smyth, 19, from Sandyford in County Dublin; and drummer Sam Kelly, 18, from Newbridge, County Kildare.

All four members of this outfit met last year while studying at the BIMM Institute music college in Dublin, and connected due to their similar taste in music, and the band was established in November of last year.

They are managed by 19-year-old Brigid Burke, who is originally from Philadelphia in the United States, but who currently resides in County Galway.

Sam was previously involved in a band called Sunburst Orange, and later known as Fault in the System, as a teenager, while James was in a band called M50 (both bands have since split up).

James and Adam are also in another band called Gallowglass, while Harry has only ever been involved in Barrfite.

When asked how they came up with the name Barrfite, as well as the reasoning behind the unusual spelling of it, singer Harry said: "We were struggling to come up with a band name and our old band name was really bad... James and I were in a bar called the Anti Social and made a joke about a guy starting a Bar Fight, and it just stuck.

"Later, Sam and I were joking about spelling it deliberately wrong and it just worked."

The members of Barrfite, from left to right: Adam Hughes (Guitarist), Harry Moloney (Vocalist; wearing the forward-facing cap), James Moriarty-Smyth (Bassist; wearing the backward-facing cap) and Sam Kelly (Drummer), with manager Brigid Burke with the guitar Photograph: Kay Frette-Pose (@barracuda_drive) on Instagram
As for how Brigid became their manager, she explained: "It happened just outside the University’s local centra, actually.

"I got along with the guys and it kind of just became a joke that I’d be their manager, as well as be able to ground them, and evidently it stuck!"

The musical influences for Barrfite are loud and aggressive; their sound varies from grudge to hardcore metal.

Some of their main influences include Deftones, Alice In Chains, Queens of the Stone Age and The Scratch.

The band had its very first gig in Fibber Magees rock venue in Dublin back in February, and since then, Barrfite has gone on to play in different venues such as Whelan’s, The Workman’s Club and The Grand Social, and the members already have plans to expand outside of the Dublin, and play across Ireland, and who knows? Possibly abroad.

The band added in a collective statement: "We practice in rehearsal studios all around Dublin — normally wherever is cheapest!

"If we can, we try book a studio in BIMM as they’re free for students attending BIMM."

When asked if the members had any pre-concert rituals, the band said: "Before we get on stage we like to remind ourselves to play, well take a deep breath and have some fun before getting up there.”

Harry also pointed out the importance of engaging with the audience as the lead singer — he explained: "It’s very important, the crowd need to know you’re a person, feed off the energy and they feed off ours.

"They can only give back what we give them."

As for any friendships or rivalries, Barrfite said: "We definitely have some allies: Tonality, Vahedi, SRSHA and Gallowglass.

"As for any feuds we best keep them off the record!" the band joked.

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LIFE IMITATING ART?

James also revealed one hectic concert moment the band witnessed: "We once got the plug pulled on a mini festival gig in Dún Laoghaire because we had an actual bar fight!

"No one from the band was involved, and to the best of our knowledge, no one from the audience was involved either, but someone took a swing at one of the bar staff and some teeth went flying!"

As the band nears its one-year anniversary, the members are hard at work writing and performing original music, and they hope to go to the studio soon in order to record it.

When asked who in the music world they would love to collaborate with the most, Barrfite said: "We would love to play with The Scratch; they’re a metal band with similar energy to us and we think we could make some cool tunes with them."

As for collaborating with any late musicians, the band said: "We would love to collaborate with the original members of Alice In Chains, because without Alice In Chains, there would be no Barrfite."

As for the advice they would give to aspiring musicians or musicians who are unsure of themselves, James replied: "Just go for it."

"And do it with people you’re friends with it," Adam added.

Sam also had this tidbit of advice to share: "If you do music with people you like and like the same kind of music, you’ll make better music."

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ELECTRIC PICNIC

Commenting on how Barrfite got selected for Electric Picnic, Manager Brigid said: "We saw Youth Work Ireland’s Laois branch announcing an opportunity to compete for a set on their 'Electric Youth' stage via their Instagram, and we were immediately interested in putting our best foot forward to audition.

"I even took a call for it during my shift at work, as I knew how important it was to the lads to make sure we got this opportunity to show off what we have been working on for a while now."

The band continued the story by saying: "We had auditions over the course of two days, with a semi-final and final between other contestants.

"We had our first performance on Thursday, August 24 last, and made it the finals on the Friday.

"It was both nerve wracking and exciting.

"Thanks to the organisers of Youth Work Ireland Laois, the process of auditioning has been an amazing and rewarding process.

"They have been amazing to work with and any young musician should get in contact and work with them."

Barrfite engaging in an energetic rock session live. Photograph: Kay Frette-Pose (@barracuda_drive) on Instagram.

Sam also explained about the moment when Barrfite found out that they would be taking to the 'Electric Youth' stage: "We were told shortly after the finals in the Youth Centre in Laois.

"The judges went into a separate room and took nearly fifty minutes to decide on the winners, and we were the final band to be announced.

"I felt like I was going to faint as they were announcing the results!"

Barrfite played on the Electric Youth stage on Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 2.30pm.

The members also said that the opportunity to play live at the festival has 'meant so much' to them —"Thanks to Youth Work Ireland Laois and Electric Youth for giving us this amazing opportunity," they added.

For those interested in keeping up to date with the band, Barrfite can be found on Instagram and TikTok, and they plan to join Spotify in the near-future.