Dublin band Sprints have released new single Feast, the first with a new line-up that now features Zac Stephenson on guitar, following the amicable departure of founding member Colm O’Reilly. The Dublin band have enjoyed a whirlwind year: they unveiled their Top 20 debut album Letter To Self, opened for IDLES and Pixies, and delivered thrilling sets at Glastonbury, Bearded Theory, End Of The Road and All Together Now.
Sprints are building a reputation for urgent, compassionate songwriting blackened by personal tales of trauma and resilience. Harnessing the adrenaline of non-stop gigging into new material has resulted in Feast, an intriguing introduction to Sprints’ next era. On ‘Feast’, the band say:
“Pulling from our love of grunge and gothic, ‘Feast’ is named as such because it explores the idea of gluttony, consumption and desire, particularly when it comes to sexuality and romance. In Ireland a lot of our first conscious experience of storytelling happens to be religious, due in most parts to the interlinking of our Catholic Church and state, particularly in education. The Bible stories and fables of good, bad, morality and sin were always pressed upon us. I thought it was interesting to use this iconography and imagery reimagined in a queer context. Feast is dark, gothic and sensual, encouraging us to unapologetically pursue our wants and desires.”
Drummer Jack Callan describes the single as a “true full-circle moment”, having recorded it at Dublin’s Sonic Studios, also the birthplace of their 2021 EP Manifesto and its follow-up, A Modern Job. Produced by Dan Fox of Gilla Band and penned by guitarist/songwriter Karla Chubb ahead of an extensive festival run, Feast was inspired by the literary subgenres of gothic fiction and body horror, as well as the subversive poetry of Mary Oliver. It uses pummelling riffs to communicate all the frisson of desire and queer possibility – a sensation bolstered by Chubb’s rich, full-bodied vocal.
The band are currently on tour in The States following a sold out debut US tour in March. The new run includes a date at Chicago’s iconic Riot Fest. A UK and European leg will follow, with their biggest show to date at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town in November.
Sprints Live Dates
2024
September
25 | Boston MA, US – The Sinclair
27 | Philadelphia PA, US – The Foundry
28 | Brooklyn NY, US – Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 | Washington DC, US – The Atlantis
October
2 | Carrboro NC, US – Cat’s Cradle Back Room
4 | Atlanta GA, US – Altar
5 | Nashville TN, US – The End
7 | Austin TX, US – Parish
10 | Denver CO, US – Globe Hall
13 | Salt Lake City UT, US – Urban Lounge
14 | Boise ID, US – Shrine Social Club
16 | Portland OR, US – Aladdin Theatre
17 | Seattle WA, US – Neumo’s
November
5 | Brighton, UK – Mutations
6 | Liverpool, UK – Favourite Days Festival
12 | Bristol, UK – Marble Factory
13 | London, UK – Kentish Town Forum
17 | Mexico – Corona Capital
23 | Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
24 | Cologne, DE – Luxor
28 | Glasgow, UK – SWG3
29 | Manchester, UK – New Century Hall
30 | Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
December
7 | Nijmegen, NL – Zeitgeist
9 | Berlin, DE – Lido
10 | Hamburg, Knust
12 | Brussels, BE – Orangerie
13 | Lille, FR – L’Aéronef
14 | Luxembourg, LX – Rotondes
16 | Paris, FR – Trabendo
2025
January
5 | Bognor Regis – Rockaway Beach
February
17 – 22 | Miami – Jamaica – Flogging Molly’s Salty Dog Cruise
For more information on Sprints please check out their facebook and instagram.
