The Academic presented by Goodlive Artists Austria

With their self-released debut album Tales From The Backseat, The Academic made a striking entrance into the international music scene. Packed with infectious guitar hooks and singalong melodies, Craig Fitzgerald’s lyrics about the bittersweet trials of teenage love in rural Ireland immediately placed the band among the most exciting names to watch. Released in 2018, the album hit No. 1 in Ireland, but its reach stretched much further — with the band touring the UK, Europe, and North America in the years that followed.

Since then, they’ve dropped two more EPs — Acting My Age (2020) and Community Spirit (2021) — and a second album, Sitting Pretty — toured with and supported artists like Louis Tomlinson, Noel Gallagher, The Rolling Stones, and The Killers. Their fanbase is loyal, with lyrics tattooed and their music soundtracking weddings. “The fact that our music has soundtracked someone’s life is incredible,” bassist Stephen Murtagh says. “What an unbelievable privilege.”

Hailing from the outskirts of Mullingar, a small Irish town, The Academic’s rise has been relentless. What began as a hobby playing in their local pub in 2013 quickly evolved into something bigger. By 2015, they were playing sold-out shows, including a headline gig at Dublin’s Vicar Street, and released an EP full of guitar-driven originals. Their rapid success continued with nominations for the Choice Music Prize for both Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

But despite their early success, The Academic have always maintained a refreshing sense of humility. “We fell into this band and have been falling uphill ever since,” says Fitzgerald. Sitting Pretty marked a bold new chapter, one where the pressure to keep up with their own momentum is no longer a driving force.

The first era of The Academic with Tales From The Backseat was defined by the competitive spirit of youth — “We wanted to play the fastest, have the biggest chorus,” says Craig. Sitting Pretty brought a more introspective tone, with Stephen adding, “We’re different people now, and that’s natural. You grow out of things.”

“We’ve changed,” Stephen says, “but we’re still us.” The new music — and this new era for the band — feels really exciting and we can’t wait to start sharing the music we have been working on.”

The Academic are a band who have never been interested in chasing trends. Craig says, “We’ve always trusted our gut and the music we make. That’s not going to change.” For Stephen, it’s about knowing who they are. “We love a big chorus. If we’re not doing that, then what’s the point?”

The band have expanded their sound and their ambitions. “We’re so excited for next year,” Craig says. “We still have huge ambition as a band and are not afraid to push ourselves musically and try new things. We never, as a band, want to sit still and we look at our journey as one of constant evolution.”

As Stephen puts it, “The idea of breaking into new territories is what lights a fire under me. Going to new countries and seeing so many people turning up — those who have been there a long time, those who are there for the first time — it really is a humbling experience. It might sound cliché but we have the most amazing fans in the world.”