"Generally the tracks have a real heart tugging quality to them, with rising melodies and great musical diversions as middle eighths – the band really know how to build a song to an epic climax."
Ham Sandwich are like an insane experiment thought up by university musicologists while down the pub. “Hey!” says musicologist number one as he sips his Snakebite. “Let’s put together a genuinely brilliant band and give them a stupid name and see how that affects their progress!”
“That’s a fantastic idea!” says musicologist number two. “And for our next trick let’s put Glen Hansard in a low budget musical and try and get him an Oscar nomination!”
Ham Sandwich are a really, really good band. The magical twinning of Podge McNamee’s dark baritone with Niamh Farrell’s crystal clear alto is their secret weapon. But it’s not the only thing they have at their disposal. Beginning and ending with the sounds of acoustic guitars, the bulk of the album is made up of chugging electric guitars, bass and drums with tastefully added guitar picking, keyboard, theremins (I think) and effects used to highlight and emphasise what are essentially swelling, melodic, romantic pop songs. Songs like ‘St Christopher’, ‘Broken Glass’ and ‘Sleep’ are classics (Niamh’s “don’t let go” refrain at the end of the latter kind of reminds me of ‘Don’t Give Up’ with Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel). Generally the tracks have a real heart tugging quality to them, with rising melodies and great musical diversions as middle eighths – the band really know how to build a song to an epic climax.
Recorded by Karl Odlum in a home-made studio based in a dormitory at Headfort House in Kells, Carry The Meek is an album of beautifully sung, crisp, tight, lush, emotional and fun guitar songs that is much more than the sum of its parts. And who cares what their name is (well, me obviously, but I still think it’s a superb album).
A new venue in Sligo is making serious waves, with an impressive series of shows over the coming month offering the promise of bigger and better things to come
Read More If you missed out on getting tickets for their Friday show, now's your chance to see the indie 5-piece
Read More After a storming performance at the Bow St Sessions in December, the indie darlings are back for their first gig of the year.
Read More It was a monster year on home soil for the Kells collective, with a chart-topping LP, a rip-roaring Electric Picnic headliner - and, of course, a Hot Press cover. Now, they're aiming to make their mark further afield.
Read More Bringing a very cool version of ‘Blue Monday’ to a red-hot Thursday, three of the finest of the current crop of Irish acts wowed the crowds at the Old Jameson Distillery last night...
Read More Thursday sees HamsandwicH and R.S.A.G. teaming up for the second Bow Street Sessions, brought to you by Jameson and Hot Press - Niamh Farrell gives us an update on how preparations are going
Read More Following on from the inaugural event which saw Hermitage Green, Trinity Ensemble and Gavin James light up the Old Jameson Distillery, more of Ireland's finest talents are preparing to bring the party to Bow Street
Read More Following the barnstorming first instalment – which saw performances from Hermitage Green, Trinity Ensemble, and special surprise guest Gavin James – there’s another night of music and collaboration in store at the Old Jameson Distillery.
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The final act of this year's Big Break, in association with ALCATEL ONETOUCH, came last night as one of Ireland's hottest rising stars - and one of Ireland's hottest acts period - thrilled the crowd at an intimate gig in Dublin
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Newly crowned ALCATEL ONETOUCH Big Break winner Ciaran Lavery will celebrate his win with a special Dublin performance, including an appearance by HamsandwicH – and you could be there too…
Read More The August bill is one of immense tastiness!
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Stories From The Surface debuts at the head of the indie list
Read More Stories From The Surface is the biggest-selling album of the week.
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With the release of their third album, HamsandwicH have taken a giant leap forward. Driving forces Niamh and Podge outline their masterplan for world domination to Olaf Tyaransen...
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Get 'Apollo' for FREE for ONE DAY ONLY...
Read More The show takes place as part of the venue's 25th anniversary
Read More Catch the Dubliners fresh from their slot supporting Arcade Fire in Marlay Park...
Read More The Irish acts will grace the same Marlay Park stage as Arcade Fire and Pixies.
Read More Ham Sandwich will play biggest headline show to date in Dublin's Olympia Theatre on Saturday 19th April 2014
Read More The Meath band are set to play their biggest headline gig to date at the Dublin venue this April.
Read More The Irish indie quintet have been will support Mumford and Sons later this month…
Read More The County Meath indie-rockers have been added to the already impressive line-up of Irish musical talent taking part in the NYE bash...
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Ring in the new year with the band at The Village.
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Next Thursday 22nd September will see Banquet celebrate Arthurs Day with a late show and club night at TRIPOD.
Read More An evening of celebration is on the cards.
Read More Two more top acts for Thurles festival
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Hothouse Flowers, Ham Sandwich, Sharon Shannon and Aslan will all play at the Oldcastle event
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The rescheduled date is July 16, with original tickets still valid
Read More Shortly before HAM SANDWICH were due to go into the studio to record their second album their beloved manager and mentor Derek Nally passed away suddenly. As if that wasn’t enough drama, singer Niamh Farrell was still coming to terms with motherhood and an unpleasant brush with the law. Out of this period of strife, however, the band have emerged with their best LP yet.
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You'll be able to get a sneak preview of their new album.
Read More Frontmistress Niamh Farrell sounds uncharacteristically sweet on 'The Naturist', the Kells foursome's first single from their second album, due for release in September of this year. A jangly, banjo-led affair, this track marks an exciting new place for Ham Sandwich and may just be their best tune to date.
Read More The lads and lady have made the final selection to join the likes of Doves, Frightened Rabbit, Billy Bragg and Idlewild for the Ben and Jerry's Sundae Festival.
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Ham Sandwich, O Emperor, The Chapters & Patrick Kelleher set to sing for Haiti
Read More In addition to the November 6th single release, the band will be playing across Ireland this month. They also invite fans to participate in their logo competition.
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Her pregnancy is the subject of a network docu-drama.
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The Kells quintet have officially achieved veteran status this week with the release of their seventh single.
Read More The Headfort Arms Hotel is the venue this October for Kells-Stock, a charity gig featuring such local heroes as Ham Sandwich.
Read More Niamh and Podge of Ham Sandwich (pictured) will be on hand to launch the new NoDiScO night at Dublin's Academy next weekend.
Read More Ham Sandwich, The Kinetiks, DJ Mikkidee and DJ Mo Kelly are all on the bill for the free Duracell Ultra party at Dublin's Academy.
Read More A member of the Farrell family has sent us the first picture of baby Oscar, who was born last Sunday.
Read More Hot Press is delighted to reveal that Niamh Farrell of Kells band Ham Sandwich has given birth to a healthy baby boy.
Read More Phantom 105.2 will throw 'The Longest Day' bash in The Button Factory this month to celebrate Irish musical talent.
Read More Ham Sandwich are set to conquer the festival world this summer with spots at Glastonbury and Electric Picnic
Read More Arguably the most talked about Dublin band of the moment, Ham Sandwich, with their imminent UK tour , look well poised to take it to the next level.
Read More Ham Sandwich are looking for fans' help to get them playlisted on the BBC's 6Music digital radio station.
Read More Never mind their odd name, Ham Sandwich might just be the most exciting new Irish rock band of the year.
Read More Ham Sandwich's growing fanbase will have a chance to meet the band when they perform in Dublin's HMV store next week.
Read More Ham Sandwich have confirmed a release date for their debut album and a string of supporting live dates.
Read More Ham Sandwich and The Radio are both confirmed for gig in The Sugar Club later this week
Read More The Radio join Ham Sandwich for the fourth Live In Your Living Room gig.
Read More Ham Sandwich and The Mighty Stef are to play a Dublin show.
Read More Ham Sandwich are asking their not inconsiderable fan base to help them design the cover for their debut album, which is due in the autumn and addresses the theme of heartbreak.
Read More The indie band with the questionable name, Ham Sandwich, have revealed their latest tour dates, which see them play smaller venues as well as festival gigs.
Read More ‘Click..Click..Boom!’ sounds for all the world like it should be a hip-hop track and there is a certain swagger and assurance at work here. Musically, this is a duet that sits on the edge of darkness and a track that places itself firmly in the eye of the storm. Producer Karl Odlum continues to bring out the best in Ham Sandwich (b-side‘Song In D’ is, to be honest, equally good) and there is a sense that they could take this anywhere they please. Best new Irish band? At the moment they’re a shoo in.
Read More Dubliners Ham Sandwich are touring in support of their new single.
Read More I’m not sure what I expected from my first Ham Sandwich experience: probably something a little kooky, a bit amateurish and not particularly riveting. Wrong. This is a record of no little intensity, slow burning from a quietish start into something potent and memorable. There are so many things to recommend it – but let’s just stick with the controlled power that the band exudes and Niamh’s truly wonderful vocal. ‘Words’ deserves to be nothing less than their own ‘Nightrocker’, the kind of track that smashes all preconceptions and establishes Ham Sandwich as serious contenders.
Read More You can see the logic behind this mini-festival in The Ambassador, featuring three up-and-coming Irish bands. The small acts pool their respective fanbases to create a bigger audience for all three – thus the gig is given an aura of an event to draw in music-lovers who may not be familiar with any of the performers. In practice, it fell short of the mark.
Read More Her kooky baby-doll look marks Niamh Farrell from Ham Sandwich as an aspiring pop starlet with a difference.
Read More Having overcome their self-imposed mountain of a name to prove themselves worthy of our attention, ‘St Christopher’ finds the Kells band in a rather serene mood, with mid-tempo monotony highlighting their Sunday feeling. The girl/boy vocal interplay between front people Niamh and Podge isn’t as chilling in its juxtaposition here as Mark Lanegan’s and Isobel Campbell’s – but it’s early days yet.
Read More The unusually monickered Ham Sandwich have a new single out, and a live date to celebrate.
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