Amble – The Albert Hall, Manchester: Live Review

aainscoe

4 months ago

Amble – The Albert Hall, Manchester – Sunday 23rd November 2025

What happens when two teachers and a scientist decide to throw their lot into a career playing music? The result – a meteoric rise to acclaim and fame.

“WELCOME TO SUNDAY SERVICE!”

With Mumford & the gang currently on a round of the UK arenas, Amble offer a slightly more intimate alternative in the same ballpark as their Reverie Tour 2025 concludes in Manchester.

Amble is made up of Robbie Cunningham (lead vocals and guitar), Oisin McCaffrey (guitar and vocals) and Ross McNerney (mandolin, banjo and vocals). Having released their album Reverie in May of this year, Amble have stormed onto the folk scene, making quite an entrance. They brought their fresh-on-the-folk-scene warm harmony-rich Irish folk to Manchester’s packed-full and iconic, Albert Hall. A scene perfectly set for a picturesque night, surrounded by history with high, echoing ceilings and stained-glass windows.

And what do people say about the best gigs? Something about the interaction between band an audience? This was one of those that some might classify as a close to spiritually uplifting experience. The enormous cheers that welcomed every mention of a song title or recognition of its intro; singing along boisterously with more than a hint of Irish brogue. There may be a day when Robbie decides to step back from the mic in something like Socrates Smiled and let the audience take the vocal spotlight – bit like the tradition of the crowd singing the first verse and chorus of Hungry Heart at a Springsteen show.

THE ROAR OF THE CROWD

Even before band came out to roaring cheers from the crowd, the massed choirs were warming up with a singalong to James Blunt’s 1973 and as the trio emerged (on the heels of the second trio on the backline providing musical support) they certainly did not disappoint. Little White Chapel kicked off their set for the night and showcased Ross McNerney’s magnificent banjo playing, a taste of what was to come later in the show.

Stories intertwined with the songs and provided the roots and insight to what the band is all about. Remembering those that are no longer with us, fond memories and celebrating family and friends around us are key themes, beautifully done through Hand Me Downs, written by Oisin McCaffrey and an insight into their Irish home through Ross McNerney’s Lonely Island, a beautiful song allowing the audience a snapshot into a more remote but beautifully melancholic part of rural Ireland.

ONE HIGHLIGHT OF MANY

A true highlight, one of many, (add Socrates Smiled and a few days old The Rarest Hour) for the evening was Mary’s Pub. A song introduced by Robbie Cunningham, who wrote it one evening after meeting a girl on a night out, which despite his efforts, he didn’t prove so lucky all those years ago. The audience held the song, truly a crowd favourite, a magical experience with the voices of 500+ audience members in tune with the smooth vocals of Robbie Cunningham. Tonnta brought the house down with Ross McNerney on bouzouki, giving a lesson in throwing bouzouki hero shapes. The chemistry of the band, rooted in their friendship shone through as they delved deep into the acoustic part of the song, building the audiences stamping, cheering and clapping.

Their performance demonstrated why Reverie resonates so well live. The simplicity, the heart and their ability to make massive spaces feel like intimate circles. Songs through the set also featured on their 2025 EP, Hand Me Downs and the very recently released new single The Rarest Hour. A song of home and memories; that home may not be a static place, more so the people familiar and around you that make it home. A calm and contemplative quality song allowing a moment for reflection with your own memories and leave an emotional mark through sincerity and imagery.

STAND OUT FINALE

A stand-out finish came in the form of 3 warm and honest voices with no frills. After the ‘sounds like a 100 year old Folk song’ Mariner Boy, Swan Song was the perfect end to a fantastic evening. A quiet intensity building, as the bad and audience breathed as one, the audience was captivated and met them with thunderous applause, the Manchester way. This was a magical evening, a stunning setting for a band you will not want to miss. Their storytelling, their bond of friendship, outstanding musicianship and energy is something to behold and one to look out for.

Not quite in the league of Led Zeppelin ‘selling their souls to the Devil for instant fame’ category, Amble are much too humble for that sort of shenanigans. But – the progression with a rapidly increasing fanbase from Night & Day to Academy 2 and Albert Hall might see them reappearing in a much larger Manchester venue – probably sold out too – on the next touring cycle.

PRE-AMBLE…

Their Bandcamp page tells us to “imagine the lovechild of Billy Bragg and Jarvis Cocker… now get your head out of the gutter and picture Maicín.” Frontman Matt Hurley lives up top the billing as well as reminding us on several occasions of the ban’d hometown – “Up Cork!” – which is met with what seems to be several fellow Corkonians (I looked it up…) in the room tonight.

As Robbie says in the Amble set, he’s been listening and the seal of approval sees them bring Maicin on tour with them. They’re warmly welcomed and benefit from a short set that possibly peaks with a song about living in London (“but f@@k me, the Guinness was shite!“). It’s called One Channel Television and offers some interesting opportunities for rhyming couplets as well as having a dreamy Radiohead aspect to it’s opening passages. There’s also one called Che Guevara which again offers a similar lyrical nouse. They even bring a melodica to add to their Indie (with quirks) set. Not something you see every day.