You catch me writing this review on a Wednesday morning, already annoyed after some plasterers turned up, did half a job, got paid, and disappeared. Brilliant. I’ve got covers all over the place and the cats keep vanishing underneath them. So, whether I need a sea shanty or not, here we go.
This is a very interesting duo who caught my eye among the flood of emails that come in!
Irish brother duo The Guzzlers release their debut single ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ this St. Patrick’s Day, accompanied by a campaign of pop-up performances at their favourite Liverpool pubs.
Tom and Cian O’Dowd have been making waves on the Liverpool music scene since relocating from Limerick last year. While gearing up for their debut album, they now surface with their first single, ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ — a lively, authentic shanty and the perfect soundtrack for St. Patrick’s Day.
The Guzzlers explain:
“We wrote the song after getting fired from a ferry gig for drinking too many pints. It’s a love letter to bad decisions, late-night sessions, and the kind of stories your mam doesn’t need to know about. Some bands write heartbreak songs — we wrote one about drinking 20 pints. It’s all related to love.”
Let me share the press release:
“The Guzzlers’ debut single ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ was born on board the Dublin to Cherbourg ferry, where brothers Tom and Cian O’Dowd were employed playing Irish songs to entertain passengers. One particularly riotous trip — involving numerous pints in French bars and a near miss making the ferry — was immortalised in song, and they were on their way.
In summer 2025, the band packed up and left their home of Limerick for Liverpool, armed with guitars, banjo, and a raft of original songs. Busking outside notable Irish bars led to invitations inside; word spread quickly, and soon The Guzzlers were gracing stages at The Jacaranda, The Cavern Club, and The Philharmonic, supporting local legend Ian Prowse.
Their reputation grew further with a residency at Anfield, playing for arriving Liverpool FC fans at every home game this season, alongside a special guest slot with The Highstool Prophets at Liverpool Academy in January.
In December, the band entered the studio with producer Jon Withnall (Coldplay, Rihanna, Echo & The Bunnymen), emerging with Drinking The Dream — a debut album packed with autobiographical songs inspired by the greats of Irish folk, but with their own unique and intoxicating charm. The album is set for release this autumn, with further singles to follow and live dates across the country.”
My review:
This track is an absolute celebration of drinking 20 pints of lager — and it fully leans into that with a wink and a grin. Sung in a pub-ready, summer-festival singalong style, it’s not trying to be anything other than a good time, and there’s no shame in that.
They do what they do very well. The song is melodic, packed with strong chorus hooks, and tells a story in the finest Irish drinking-song tradition. It’s not a genre that crosses my headphones very often, but it left me genuinely looking forward to the album — which means it’s done exactly what it needed to do.
If this is the kind of chaos The Guzzlers are bringing to their debut album, then it’s one worth raising a glass to. Loud, lively, and just the right side of reckless — ‘20 Pints To Cherbourg’ is a reminder that sometimes music is at its best when it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
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Stream music from The Guzzlers here
By: Lorraine Foley
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The Guzzlers are on the road in 2026, they can be found at:
December 11th – Liverpool, O2 Academy (with Highstool Prophets)
December 12th – London, Shepherds Bush Empire (with Highstool Prophets)
December 13th – Manchester, O2 Ritz (with Highstool Prophets)
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