Bannered Mare formed in 2018 from the ashes of, Race the Flux, and born of a time mired by personal struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues. The band became a vehicle for founding member Joe Padfield (lead vocals/guitar) to explore the complex emotions around these issues and in doing so transmute negatives into a positive.
Following a slew of singles including 2024’s ‘Synapses’ and ‘Liminal Space’, with the former premiering on Amplify with Ailsha on RTE2XM and 2025’s ‘Pet Particular’ and ‘Hip Shot’ which caught the sharpened ears of Golden Plec, PureM Zine, IMRO, Genuine Irish, Rock N Load, Ragged Cast, TheBeat.ie, Otherside Reviews and was selected by Joe.ie as one of their Tracks of the Week.
The band are now ready to release their debut album ‘He’s Only Sleeping’. An album that over it’s 10 tracks is exhaustive in its exploration of ideas and sounds. The overarching themes of the album centre around navigating the cracks in the pavement of life, the pressures and doubt coupled with the chaos we all face. In Joe’s words, “It’s about trying, failing, and trying again, fleeting connections, and the quiet resilience that keeps us moving forward. I think each song captures a different part of that journey, but together they’re a testament to perseverance and finding meaning in the chaos.”
At the heart of Bannered Mare’s sound is their undeniable chemistry and camaraderie as a band. Completed by Alan Kilcullen (drums/vocals), Paul Higgins (guitar/vocals), Derek Ellard (guitar/vocals) and Kyle Dee (bass/vocals). The band describe their music as ‘A reflection of the human experience, full of passion, emotion, and energy’.
