Fontaines D.C. are an Irish post-punk band formed in Dublin in 2014. They later move to London, but remain rooted in the Dublin scene that shaped their early work. The group includes Grian Chatten on vocals, Carlos O’Connell and Conor Curley on guitar, Conor Deegan III on bass, and Tom Coll on drums. They also have an associated DJs lineup, listed as Fontaines DJs.

Formation and early years

The band members meet while attending music college and bond over a shared interest in poetry. They begin by self-releasing singles and playing live regularly, building their profile before signing to Partisan Records in 2018.

Albums and recognition

Their debut album, Dogrel, comes out in 2019 and receives widespread critical acclaim. It is named Album of the Year on Rough Trade’s website, voted Album of the Year by presenters on BBC Radio 6 Music, and nominated for both the Mercury Prize and the Choice Music Prize.

The second album, A Hero’s Death, is written and recorded during extensive touring for the debut and is released in 2020. It is later nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

Skinty Fia, released in 2022, becomes the band’s first album to reach number one in the UK and Irish albums charts. Their fourth album, Romance, appears in 2024.

Style

The band are associated with post-punk, indie rock, gothic rock and rock, and are also tagged with crank wave and Irish post-Brexit new wave.