In their debut at Adelaide Fringe, Grammy-winning tenors The Shamrocks transformed The Virago tent into the biggest Irish pub singalong.

The setup was deceptively simple, with five vocalists (two pairs of brothers included) and a guitar player, the audience were whisked away to the Emerald Isle for a night of Irish folk songs. The camaraderie between the lads was unmistakable, with knowing grins between them as they reimagined the Irish songbook for a new generation.

Despite the fraught history of Catholic-Protestant unrest, the singers – who are made up of both denominations – called for unity not just within Ireland, but around the globe. The cross-community performers playing side by side gives their work a quality that goes beyond entertainment. Speaking openly, they honoured the Belfast they grew up in and celebrated it today. A place shaped by peace, reconciliation and shared pride.

Standouts included the romantic ballad “Black Velvet Band”, “Red is the Rose” and a stirring rendition of Slim Dusty’s “Waltzing Matilda”.

 Matthew Campbell, one of the vocalists, impressed as a multi-instrumentalist. Playing a tin whistle, flute and keyboard on various songs.

A bodhran drumming instrumental solo also drove the audience to foot stomping and cheer.

All throughout, the impressive audio engineering had the tenors voices sounding crisp and clear.

But the audience got heavily into the action with the synchronised handclaps during “Wild Rover” and “Whiskey in the Jar”.

Overall, the musicianship is impeccable, the banter effortless and their ability to ignite the crowd remarkable. For the finale, everyone was on their feet after a faultless night of good ol’ Irish craic with a bunch of strapping lads that will leave you feeling like you’ve had the warmest, wildest Belfast pub session imaginable.

The Shamrocks have a full-month season at Gluttony’s The Virago. If you’re looking for something to raise a pint to, get your tickets here.

*****

Five stars