The Dublin group started as 21 Demands and found its name, Kodaline, in 2012.

From 21 Demands to slow-burn anthems

They build tender alt-rock with piano, roomy drums, and clear tenor melodies. In recent years they have leaned into stripped-down shows, echoing their live record Our Roots Run Deep. Expect anchors like All I Want, High Hopes, Brother, and The One, with small arrangement tweaks from the album cuts. The crowd skews mixed in age, with couples and friend groups who sing softly and save the big lift for the choruses. Trivia note: as 21 Demands they became the first unsigned act to hit No. 1 in Ireland with Give Me a Minute in 2007, and parts of Our Roots Run Deep were captured in Dublin with minimal studio polish.

What might they play tonight?

Take the song picks and production details here as informed guesses from past tours, not a promise for your night.

The Kodaline Crowd, Up Close

Quiet fashion, loud feelings

You see denim jackets, soft knits, and simple boots, more comfort than flash. Fans bring small flags or handwritten notes, hoping for a dedication during The One. Phone lights rise on the hush of All I Want, but most people keep screens down during verses.

Traditions you notice by song two

There is a murmured whoa refrain that rolls through Love Like This, neat and on time. Merch leans to lyric tees and clean fonts, plus a photo zine from the Our Roots Run Deep era. Pre-show playlists skew indie and folk-pop, and you hear soft Dublin references traded by long-time followers. Between songs the room stays polite and present, saving the big release for the closing peak.

How Kodaline Shape Sound Onstage

Voice first, band as frame

Steve Garrigan's voice sits bright and clear, and the band keeps space around it. Piano leads many intros, then guitars join with steady strums that thicken the chorus without crowding the melody. Drums favor roomy kicks and soft cymbals, with brushes or mallets on the ballads.

Subtle switches that matter

Live, they sometimes drop a song a touch lower than the studio key, which softens the tone and helps the crowd sing along. Capos on acoustic guitars add a chime that cuts through, while electric lines answer the vocal like a second singer. They often reshape a bridge, pulling the volume down so three-part harmonies can bloom before the final chorus. Lighting tends to warm whites and ambers that match the slow build instead of chasing effects.

If You Like Kodaline, Try These Road Neighbors

Neighboring sounds in the same lane

Fans of Snow Patrol tend to cross over, since both acts favor patient builds and choruses that land with a sigh more than a shout. The Script share Irish roots and a pop-rock core that balances radio hooks with earnest stories. OneRepublic appeal overlaps on polished arrangements, clean falsetto lines, and crowd-ready claps.

Different routes to the same feeling

If you like warm, guitar-forward ballads, James Bay scratches a similar itch with a more bluesy edge. For the quieter, candle-glow moments, Gavin James delivers the close-mic intimacy many Kodaline fans chase. These artists draw listeners who value melody first and a live arc that starts small and closes with a gentle lift.