Skyrocket Promotions Presents: Borla with Special Guests: Strand, Kippax

Skyrocket Promotions are proud to announce a headline show for the amazing ‘Borla’ with Special Guests Strand and Kippax.

Borla: 

Three friends who met in 2023 at the Public University of Navarra, studying for a master’s degree that seemed to be the shortest route to their dream of job stability. Now that they have completed their master’s degrees, their employment situation remains the same, but at least it helped them to set up Borla.

The project was born out of their desire to try playing something together, mixing each of their influences. Borla‘s music could be defined as intimate and precious pop, without much fuss or pretension but with punch: a little post-punk here, some jangle pop there, combined with influences from Basque 80s pop, emo and even oi. Some people say it sounds like Bloc Party, La Culpa, Ataque de Caspa or Itoiz, among others.

In January 2024, they released their demo on Bandcamp, which they edited on cassette with Polze de la Mort, recorded by Beñat Malakias in their rehearsal studio in September 2023, before their first concert. Despite its eminently DIY sound and production, the cassette received good reviews, appearing in Mondo Sonoro.

Since then, Borla has played around 70 concerts throughout the Basque Country, France or Spain, while also finding time to record their first LP, Kordoba bidea, at Luze Studio, which was released in May 2024 in digital and vinyl formats by the Valencian label Flexidiscos. Borla presents itself as a very promising and interesting emerging act on the already prolific Basque music scene.

Strand: 

Formed in 2018 as Soundstrand, STRAND are a five-piece indie-pop outfit from Finglas, North Dublin. The group features Dara Clancy on vocals, Shane Aherne on bass, David Solola and JP Roche on guitar and Jude Finn on drums.

From their inception as schoolboys, STRAND’s sound has aged as they have. Starting out with a youthful sounding blend of Buzzcocks and Housemartins, the band’s sound has evolved and matured, introducing elements of indie-pop (think Inhaler), garage-rock revival (think The Strokes) and new-wave (think The Cure).

Beginning on the independent venue circuit of Dublin, STRAND have headlined and sold out most key venues in the city, including The Workman’s Club, The Grand Social, Fibber Magees and Whelan’s.

The group have bided their time, waiting until 2024 to begin releasing music to DSPs. March 2024 saw the release of American Radio, a sonic ode to their gritty initial sound. STRAND entered the studio with Keelan O’Reilly of Post-Party to begin work on their debut 5-track EP, “Can You Blame Us?”, out now.

2025 saw the release of their single “Strange Hill”, which saw them featured on official playlists, festivals and radio play, both here at home (RTÉ) and overseas (BBC). The band rounded out the year with a headline gig at the Workman’s Club main room, which was upgraded due to phenomenal demand.

2026 already sees STRAND rising to new heights, with premier slots at Whelan’s One to Watch and the forthcoming St Patrick’s Festival at The Grand Social.
The band will be on the road this summer as part of their Irish Tour, as they gather momentum for their oncoming sophomore EP.

Kippax:

Kippax are an indie rock band formed in Dublin, the coming together of four best mates. Mashing a driving groove into lyrics dripping with melancholic yearning. Primarily Kippax draw inspiration from their shared love for The Smiths and The Stone Roses

Having brought their live act across Ireland and the UK, including supporting international touring acts like Getdown Services and Teenage Dads. Kippax have earned themselves a reputation as energetic indie rockers, inviting the audience into the bond the four lads share with each other.

Kippax consists of vocalist Cameron Wolfe, guitarist and Ewan Ramage, drummer Conor Duffy and bassist Daniel Lynam.

“Known for their infectious energy and live shows, the four-piece channel the melodic intricacy of The Smiths and the storytelling grit of Pulp” ~ Hot Press Magazine