The Academic

The Academic

The Academic are an indie rock band from Mullingar, Ireland. The group forms in 2013 and remains active. It consists of Craig Fitzgerald, Dean Gavin, Matthew Murtagh and Stephen Murtagh.

The band grows up just outside Mullingar, in the Irish midlands about an hour west of Dublin. The members meet at school and become friends through shared interests including toasted sandwiches, Nicolas Cage films and music. Their early sound is shaped by the early-2000s New York rock revival associated with The Strokes, Interpol and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, as well as the post-punk of that period.

The Academic begin by playing local battle-of-the-bands contests and small pub shows, then move on to larger stages. They play sell-out shows and festivals across Ireland, the US, the UK and Europe.