Hailing from Galway, Ireland, NewDad are a shimmering collision of indie rock, shoegaze, and introspective lyricism. Formed while still in school as a workaround to solo performance requirements, the band has since grown into a compelling force—Julie Dawson’s spectral vocals weaving through waves of distortion, Fiachra Parslow anchoring with kinetic drums, and Sean O’Dowd’s guitar lines cutting through the emotional haze. Their debut album *Madra* (2024) earned critical acclaim for its fusion of melancholic beauty and raw edge.

In 2025 they followed *Madra* with the more expansive **Altar**, exploring themes of identity, ambition, and longing with sharper instrumentation and ambition. The band’s trajectory—stellar support slots, festival appearances across Europe, and a steadily growing cult following—makes their upcoming stop at The Rave on May 8, 2026; one of the year’s most anticipated sessions of ethereal rock energy.