Tipperary-based Oasis tribute band take Ireland by storm

Tipperary-based tribute band Acquiesce have taken Ireland by storm since their debut in June 2024.

Founded originally by members of Thurles-based band Jester, the group focuses on the works of the iconic Manchester Britpop band Oasis, playing gigs featuring the many hits of the Gallager brothers to huge crowds each time they perform.

The group, comprising Colly Dempsey as the lead singer, David Slattery, who plays guitar and fulfils the Noel Gallagher role, Kevin Callanan on drums, Tomas Maher and Mark O’Dwyer on guitar, Niall O Shaughnessy on bass, Harry Morley on keys, Sarah Flynn on trumpet, and Rob Hall, came together for what was originally intended to be a one-off performance in Hickey’s Bar in Thurles, in aid of Meitheal21, Down Syndrome Ireland’s Tipperary branch.

One of the band member’s children avails of the services Meitheal21 offers, making the charity one close to the hearts of the band members.

Ticket sales exceeded their expectations, as support was shown from the get-go for the group, with Liam Gallagher’s wife Debbie Gwyther, and his manager reaching out to the group after their Hickey’s debut to offer tickets to Gallagher’s Thomond Park gig to raffle off on the night of the fundraiser.

Timing proved to be key for the group, as two months after their initial performance, the Gallagher brothers announced their comeback tour, ‘Live ‘25’ reuniting the band after 15 years out of the spotlight.

Support for Acquiesce quickly grew, with many people asking if they would be performing any more gigs, much to their delight.

Since then, the group has performed a sold out gig in Whelans in Dublin, and have featured on the lineup at Devil’s Bit Festival, Night & Day Festival, and the Liberty Music Festival.

The group was also invited to play at the Tipperary team homecoming in Semple Stadium in July of last year, to a 40,000-strong crowd of Tipperary supporters.

The group enjoys getting to play the songs of Oasis together, however they say they like to keep performances limited, so as to allow for the band members who are also members of Jester to focus more of their time on that project.

Speaking with the Tipperary Star on balancing both Acquiesce and Jester, and the major differences between the two groups, band member Mark O’Dwyer said that the major differences come with the difference in expression each band allows for.

“Playing with Acquiesce and Jester are two completely different experiences although they compliment each other very well. With Acquiesce the goal is to do justice to the Oasis songs that people already know and love. As we are all big Oasis fans we get a great kick out of playing them.

“With Jester we concentrate on writing and recording original material so there's a different kind of satisfaction when it all comes together.

“Both bands were actually booked to play Night & Day Festival 2025 in Roscommon so it was a great buzz to have both Acquiesce and Jester feature on the lineup that included KT Tunstall, The Stunning & Paul Brady.

“Like most bands we are all working so it can be difficult to find the time to concentrate on both but as 5 of the 9 members of Acquiesce play with Jester and have done for years so we know how to make it work in a limited time frame. We have just finished an album ‘What Goes Up Must Come Down’ which we'll try to release in the not too distant future.”

Acquiesce’s next performance will take place in Hickey’s Bar in Thurles, on Saturday, September 19, starting at 7pm.

Tickets for the show can be purchased through Eventbrite, at a cost of €17.50 per person.