The Ocelots ~ Adelaide Fringe 2026 ~ Review

[Music, Acoustic - Ireland] The Ocelots Church of the Trinity Fri 20 Feb  The Ocelots are a duo from Ireland. Two regular lads who also happen to be brothers - twins in fact – so one can expect that inherent harmony that happens when siblings sing together. They currently reside in Germany. Not surprising really. For some reason Germany has a long history of loving and supporting music from Ireland. But The Ocelots in fact don’t play much music that you would immediately think of as Irish. There were a couple of Irish songs in their set, but mostly they draw on a range of influences from far and wide. Their promo notes mention ‘Americana’ and you can hear that. (Banjo is a big clue!). Indie is also mentioned as an influence and you can hear that too. There were quite a few ‘that sounds a bit like X or Y musician or group’ moments but I couldn’t quite pin down who or what they sounded like, because ultimately The Ocelots sound like themselves. They have crafted a sound that is their own and that is quite a feat in today’s music saturated world. It’s a delicate sound built around ethereal harmonies and gentle rhythms. It’s a sound that quietly washes over you and by about midway through the show I was under their musical spell. Soft rock with plenty of high register harmony over original melodies sung and played on guitar, (real) piano, banjo, flute, harmonica, and foot percussion. Highlights included some lovely synched guitar and piano on Addlepated, a song that draws inspiration from Alice in Wonderland, a distinctive blues-like harmonica solo on Front Door Key, the infectious chorus on Can’t Even Say Your Name, and a beautifully wistful version of the Beatles’ Golden Slumbers. But the vast majority of their material was their own – original songs created to highlight and nourish their own gentle musical atmosphere. The way the brothers handled a few technical problems with grace and good humour revealed just how comfortable they are with each other and their audience. What I especially liked was how their arrangements brought the best out of their songs. Subtle. Delicate. Patient. It wasn’t so much about the performance, it was more about getting the songs just right. It wasn’t about them – it was about the music. A lovingly crafted gentle sound that I imagine could become quite addictive. 4 stars  Michael Coghlan This was the only performance of The Ocelots at Adelaide Fringe 2026. #TheClothesline