The Scratch presale codes

Born from Dublin's metal scene, The Scratch turned four acoustic guitars and a cajon into a thunderous trad-punk sound.

Metal bones, wooden skin

They came together after Red Enemy wound down, keeping the drive but swapping amps for wood and strings. Sharp harmonies, palm-muted strums, and bodhran-style hits mark their identity. Expect a set that swings from pub roar to pin-drop hush, with likely stops at Pull Your Jaws and Another Round. The crowd skews mixed, from metal lifers in band tees to trad fans and first-timers, all quick on the claps and refrains. Early buzz came from balcony-and-kitchen videos that showed their percussive approach, and they often favor dropped tunings for a heavy drone.

Tonight, probably

Note that these setlist and production notes are informed guesses, and your night could unfold another way.

The Scratch Crowd, Up Close

You will see scuffed boots, patched denim, and a few GAA jerseys next to all-black band tees.

Chorus as community

Fans tend to clap in jig-time on the offbeats, and the band leans into it by quieting the strums so the room can breathe. Circle hollers kick off big sing parts, but the mood stays respectful, with people giving space when the songs dip to a hush. Merch skews bold and simple: woodcut-style logos, lyric-back shirts, and the odd screen-printed poster with knotwork.

Wear what moves, sing what you know

Between songs you might hear short Irish-language cheers and local jokes traded with the front row. Newer fans often learn the refrains by the second pass, thanks to clear cadences and call-outs from the mic. It feels like a session scaled up, where you can arrive solo and still find a chorus to back within a song or two.

How The Scratch Sounds On Stage

The Scratch push four-part shouts that land like a drum hit, then pull back to a single voice for tension.

Wood hits like drums

Two acoustics drive the rhythm with tight downstrokes while a third handles hooks, and a cajon locks the low end like a kick. They favor fast tempos, but often start slow and flip to double-time to spark movement.

Hooks, drones, and lift

On many songs, one guitar sits in a dropped tuning to keep a constant low drone, which makes the choruses feel bigger without amps. They also like subtle key shifts with a quick capo move between verses, a small trick that keeps common progressions fresh. Harmonies are mixed loud and raw, so you hear the scrape of voices as much as the notes, which suits the pub-to-stage vibe. Lighting tends to follow the beat with warm ambers and crisp strobes on the hits, framing the music rather than stealing focus.

If You Like Roaring Folk, You Might Like The Scratch

If you like the stomp and story in Flogging Molly, you will recognize the shout-along choruses and communal pulse.

Shared fires, different sparks

Fans of Dropkick Murphys will vibe with the tough, working-class beat that swaps distortion for handclaps. Trad-curious crowds following The Mary Wallopers should find similar wit, story songs, and a session feel built for voices. For a wilder, world-punk edge, Gogol Bordello brings the same sprinting tempos and acoustic bite that turn floors into moving circles.

Where tastes overlap

These groups differ in accent and gear, but their shows reward rhythm-first listeners who want melody and grit in one place. All lean on call-and-response hooks that make strangers sing by the second chorus. If that mix sounds right, The Scratch will sit naturally in your rotation.