Cutting-edge concert in store from Ham Sandwich

A consistently brilliant live band, Ham Sandwich come to Róisín Dubh on Friday, December 16.

Earlier this year, the band excelled at the Choice Music Awards show in Dublin’s Vicar Street. They had been nominated for Album of the Year for 2015’s Stories from the Surface, and although Derry singer SOAK won the prize, the ceremony kickstarted a great year for Ham Sandwich.

The Groove Tube was fortunate enough to catch the band’s acoustic performance in the Triskel Cathedral in Cork this summer where a stripped-back set up brought Niamh Farrell’s voice to the fore, and showed what a strong singer she is.

The band members are masters at building mood at a gig, and the addition of a brass section has really added depth to their sound. Part of the Ham Sandwich appeal is how Niamh’s voice combines with Podge’s, who plays guitar and provides some witty asides between songs.

“They’re two opposite kind of voices,” Niamh says.  “He’s very low and gravelly, whereas my voice . . . you’d know it’s a girl singing! I think it worked well, from the very beginning. We just continued with that – it became our thing, I guess.”

Ham Sandwich also do an interesting line in cover versions. A few weeks ago they did a sublime version of Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy on Ray Darcy’s radio show, and their gigs often feature Donna Summer’s disco classic I Feel Love.

■ Doors for this highly recommended gig are at 9pm, tickets €20/€18.50.