Turnstiles hail from Galway City in Ireland and formed at the beginning of 2019. The chemistry was there from day one and although they started off doing covers, they now have a setlist of their own blistering punk material.
The line-up is London-born Callum Mitchell on vocals, Colm Sweeney on lead guitar, Cillian Ryan on rhythm guitar, Jake Tiernan on bass and Luke Mulliez on drums.
Their first proper gig (not in a living room) was supporting a band called Felonies. In September 2019 they released their first single Moving Forward/Wasting Away on Spotify. And they also won the Star Nation band competition in Whelan’s Dublin. They have built up the extensive live experience and in November 2019 played their first headline in Galway’s Róisín Dubh. Nobody who was there is likely to forget the thrilling energy and noise generated by this ferocious five-piece.
Their uncompromising musical attitude coupled with lyrics detailing the issues of everyday life, and lead singer Callum’s London drawl/shout, has drawn comparisons to acts as diverse as Buzzcocks, Mike Skinner and Blur.
Taking their cue from last year’s single ‘Moving Forward’, they are busy writing and recording fresh material. They’ll be showcasing new songs and old favourites at gigs all over Ireland in 2020 and also have festival dates planned for the summer. Turnstiles are a visceral, life-affirming experience, best sampled live. “Their tunes sound like the coming together of The Sex Pistols and Mike Skinner in a pub getting lairy with Carl Barat and Pete Doherty – original and brilliant.” Mike Spink, award-winning engineer for Jake Bugg, The 1975 and The Gaslight Anthem “Turnstiles are from Galway and released two cracking singles in 2019. Their friends and fellow Galwegians The Clockworks cheekily described themselves as sounding like a punk rock version of The Streets, Turnstiles actually really do!” Danny McElhinney in his Irish Mail ‘bands to watch in 2020’ preview.
