Amble Concert Review: An Irish Takeover at Enmore Theatre, Sydney

This blog post is all about my Amble concert review from their gig at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

On Saturday 14th February, Valentine’s Day, I spent my evening exactly how every Irish person abroad probably dreams of spending it at some point.

In a packed theatre in Sydney, surrounded by almost nothing but Irish accents, listening to an Irish folk trio who make music that feels like Atlantic wind and sea spray.

Irish trio Amble played the first of two sold-out shows at Enmore Theatre in Newtown, and from the moment I stepped inside, it felt less like a gig and more like a temporary relocation of home.

This was my second time seeing Amble. The first was during their afternoon set at Misneach Festival in March 2025, where they supported Dermot Kennedy. Back then, they were one of many names on a lineup.

This time, they were the main event. A headline show, two sold-out nights, and their name in lights outside an iconic Sydney venue.

And there’s something particularly special about watching a band step into a bigger room and absolutely belong there.

RELATED Amble Concert Review blog posts to read:

• Kasabian Concert Review: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
• Misneach Festival Sydney Review: An Irish-Aussie Takeover
• A Wild Kneecap Gig Review: Misneach Festival Sydney, Australia
• Lady Gaga Concert Review: A Theatrical Mayhem Ball in Sydney
• Emotional Lewis Capaldi Concert Review: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney

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A Valentine’s Date, Irish Style

I went with my boyfriend, who is Welsh and, I’m fairly certain, was one of the only non-Irish people in the entire building.

If you closed your eyes in the foyer, you’d swear you were back in Dublin, Galway or Cork. The accents were everywhere.

Big groups of friends greeting each other loudly, and couples who had likely emigrated together. It was 99 percent Irish and proudly so.

We arrived around 8:10pm, early enough to catch some of the support act and grab a good standing spot close to the stage.

The standing area at Enmore Theatre is sloped, which means even if you’re not at the barricade, you still get a clear view. It’s one of the reasons I love that venue. It feels intimate without being cramped.

Before the show, we’d actually gone for dinner across the street at a dumpling spot (surprise) in Newtown. And in one of those small, surreal moments that make gig nights memorable, we walked past Robbie Cunningham, Amble’s lead singer, casually strolling down the street.

No security, no entourage. Just wandering Newtown before playing to a sold out audience at the theatre across the way. No big deal.

Outside the venue, the atmosphere was relatively calm. Most of the crowd seemed to arrive closer to 8:45pm, just before Amble were due on at 9:10pm.

There wasn’t chaos, no dramatic build-up, just a steady hum of anticipation.

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Jordy Maxwell and His Guitar

Supporting Amble was Perth singer-songwriter Jordy Maxwell. Just him and a guitar. No band, no frills.

There wasn’t a huge crowd in yet when he started, which is always tough for a support act, but he handled it with a kind of self-aware charm.

Between songs, he joked about being a “crap electrician” and living with his mum while trying to make his music career work. It was humble, honest and very Australian in its dryness.

The songs themselves were good. Thoughtful, well written, and he spoke a lot between them, filling the space with stories rather than letting it hang awkwardly.

It felt like the right kind of support act for a folk-leaning headline band. Simple, story-driven, no ego.

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Minimal Stage, Maximum Impact

When Amble came out, there was no dramatic entrance. No cinematic intro music, no blackout and spotlight reveal.

They just walked on. Three men at the front, three musicians behind them, a rug on the floor, and that was it.

The stage setup was minimal. No elaborate lighting rigs, no massive visuals, because there was no need. Their music doesn’t require spectacle, it requires space to be heard and appreciated.

The instrumentation was beautifully acoustic-heavy, with mandolin and banjo weaving through songs alongside guitars.

There were moments where the music leaned into traditional Irish jig rhythms, and you could see the shift in the crowd immediately. Feet started moving, shoulders bouncing, pints lifting mid-chorus.

The sound quality inside Enmore Theatre was excellent. Clear, balanced, warm. Every instrument distinct without overpowering the vocals.

It’s the kind of venue that suits this style of music perfectly. Big enough to feel like a milestone, small enough to keep intimacy intact.

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“Shallow River Run” and That First Moment

They opened with “Shallow River Run,” and from the first note, my immediate thought was simple: they sound great live.

Not just good. Not “close enough to the recording.” Better.

There’s something about hearing layered harmonies in a room full of people that streaming can’t replicate. The sound expands, it fills the corners, and it vibrates in your chest rather than just your headphones.

And what struck me most was how comfortable they looked. Not overwhelmed. Not swallowed by the room. Just three Irish musicians playing songs that have clearly travelled far beyond where they were first written.

Early on, they each took turns speaking briefly after a song. Nothing overly rehearsed, and no long speeches.

But you could tell they were genuinely blown away to have sold out two nights at Enmore Theatre in Sydney. That kind of disbelief is endearing, and it makes you root for them even harder.

“Mary’s Pub” and Goosebumps

If there was one moment that defined the night for me, it was “Mary’s Pub.”

At one point during the song, the backing band stepped off stage, leaving just the trio. The room somehow felt both larger and smaller at the same time. The chorus came, and the crowd sang it back so loudly that it almost overpowered the microphones.

That was the goosebumps moment.

Being Irish and living on the other side of the world, there are times when you don’t realise how much you miss the collective feeling of home until it’s suddenly there in front of you.

In that moment, it wasn’t just a song. It was a shared memory, a shared language, and a shared longing.

The voices around me were strong, unapologetic, loud. And it didn’t matter that we were thousands of miles away from home.

For those few minutes, it felt like being back in a pub somewhere along the west coast.

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“Of Land and Sea”

“Of Land and Sea” was another standout, clearly a favourite among the crowd. The energy lifted again, more rhythmic, more movement.

It’s the kind of song that feels built for live performance. There’s a pulse to it, and a momentum.

Throughout the night, people sang loudly. Sometimes beautifully. Sometimes slightly off-key. But always passionately.

It was rowdy in parts, particularly towards the front, but not in a disrespectful way. Just enthusiastic and proud.

By the final few songs, people were on shoulders. Irish flags appeared, waving above the crowd and chants of “Ole Ole Ole” broke out more than once.

It was loud, chaotic in moments, but always deeply Irish.

“Lonely Island” and Home

Amble left the stage briefly before returning for a one-song encore, “Lonely Island.”

Their final song of the night and, fittingly, my favourite.

There’s something poetic about ending on that note. It felt reflective but not sad. A quiet swell before the lights came up. They took a bow, waved, and walked off.

No drawn-out goodbye. No dramatic ending. Just done.

Outside on Enmore Road, it felt like the entire theatre had spilled into the street, accents echoing between takeaway shops and late-night bars.

Valentine’s Day in Newtown had turned into something distinctly Irish.

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Home, in a Different Hemisphere

Emotionally, the night felt comforting above all else.

Comforting is not always the word people use for concerts. But that’s what this was. It wasn’t overwhelming, or theatrical.

It felt like sitting on the Cliffs of Moher on a cold, windy day, looking out at the Atlantic. That’s the mental image their music gives me. Vast, slightly melancholic and honest.

Hearing them live amplified that feeling.

Streaming their songs is one thing, but hearing them in a room full of people who understand every lyrical reference, every inflection, every turn of phrase is another entirely.

For a few hours, it felt like a little piece of Ireland had been temporarily rebuilt inside Enmore Theatre.

Enmore Theatre, Revisited

The only other show I’ve seen at Enmore Theatre was Kasabian, which was a completely different experience.

Mosh pits, chaos, and I was seated in the balcony.

This time, I was standing close to the stage. And while I loved being near the energy, I do think if I went back, I’d opt for balcony seats again.

The view from up there is unbeatable. You can take everything in, see the lights, and watch the crowd as part of the show.

Still, being in the thick of it for Amble felt right.

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Would I See Amble Again?

Absolutely, and without hesitation.

Because if this was what they can do now, at this stage of their growth, I can only imagine what their next headline tour will look like.

Bigger rooms, more confidence, but the same authenticity.

Some gigs aren’t about scoring production value or stage design. They’re about how they make you feel walking home.

And on Valentine’s Day in Sydney, surrounded by Irish voices singing songs about land, sea and longing, I felt very far from home and very close to it at the same time.

That’s a rare thing, and it’s why I’ll be back next time they are.

RELATED Amble Concert Review blog posts to read:

• Kasabian Concert Review: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
• Misneach Festival Sydney Review: An Irish-Aussie Takeover
• A Wild Kneecap Gig Review: Misneach Festival Sydney, Australia
• Lady Gaga Concert Review: A Theatrical Mayhem Ball in Sydney
• Emotional Lewis Capaldi Concert Review: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney