Ronan O'BrienPinch of Snuff are a band I was desperate to see live. Being introduced to the band from viral videos, their 2026 tour of Ireland was one opportunity I was never going to pass.
Pinch of Snuff
Pinch of Snuff are certainly unique. Eight of Tokyo’s finest musicians with a burning passion for Irish trad music is niche to say the least. The octet consist of ridiculously talented individuals, largely drawing inspiration from The Pogues. Vocalist/guitarist Masakazu “Tiger” Tottori leads the group, with instrumental support from Hironobu Sasanuma (double bass), Harumi Endo (fiddle), Haruna Okano (accordion), Takaaki Sone (drums), Yuta Tsukahara (tin whistle), Kazuma Fujita (banjo), and Kohei Sato (uilleann pipes/bodhrán).
Playing in various sessions for the past 15 years, the group gained Irish attention around 2024, courtesy of viral videos. Known for their highly energetic and authentic approach to Irish trad music, the group embarked on their inaugural tour of Ireland in 2025. Following a spell of sold-out shows, it only felt natural that the band returned the following year for more of the same carnage. Delighted to see a show announced in Limerick, I instantly secured my tickets. Then I excitedly counted the days until it came.
The Blow In’s
In the dim light of Dolan’s main stage, the Guinness was poured and the stage was set. Before long, the support act for the night were introduced. Another band I had heard of late, The Blow In’s have been steadily rising in popularity. The trio hailing from Kerry consist of vocalist CÃan O’Leary, guitarist OisÃn O’Regan and Darragh Brosnan on accordion.
The band championed many original tracks like “Monica“ and “Run“, the latter of which features O’Leary expertly navigating through with vocals, rhythm guitar and harmonica. The trios’ fluidity is absolutely plain to see and certainly a band I envision will remain on the rise. While O’Leary’s vocal style wasn’t entirely to my taste at times, it worked seamlessly with the band’s cover of Paolo Nutini’s “Candy“. We were even treated to the unreleased new single, “Regret“, which was received brilliantly.
From supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and The Mary Wallopers previously, the band have a string of performances to come. Most notably, The Blow In’s take on Mike The Pies for a sold-out show on April 10th.
The Main Event
Following a brief interlude, Pinch of Snuff were welcomed to the stage. With band members emerging while videoing the crowd, they were as excited to be here as the rest of us. An eruption of cheer serenaded the band who positioned themselves and launched into a melodious medley. The energy was electric from the offset, with each member’s talents on full display. “Tiger” acted as a conductor, from which each member responded to impeccably. Despite being in a big group, each member’s personality shone through delightfully. From Tsukahara pulling faces while spinning his whistle, to Okano coolly producing melodies without removing her shades.
Admittedly, the songs were incredibly difficult to keep track of, as each polka seamlessly flowed into the next. Some notable breaks in these energetic performances were the mournful “Mo Ghile Mear“ and the festive-themed “Fairytale of New York“, both receiving a monumental chorus from the crowd. One of the personal highlights of the setlist came in the form of an original song. With Endo providing vocals, “Aliena“ was introduced as a song about the Japanese silk moth. The ballad had such a heartfelt swing and despite the lyrics being in Japanese, the bittersweet tone translated effortlessly. Endo’s beautiful voice was a magical surprise, and the huge applause filled her with deserved elation.
Surprise Guest
The band spoke about their delight to be playing for the first time in Limerick, and announced a local legend to join them on stage. The room erupted once again as Pat Shortt emerged with guitar in hand. Speaking of the band, he reminisced on meeting them in Tokyo and the session that ensued. Also noting the huge influence Shane MacGowan had on the group, he announced they are featured on the upcoming tribute album to the late singer. He thanked the band before joining them for a rendition of “Dirty Old Town“ and followed suit with “The Jumbo Breakfast Roll“.
Following Shortt’s departure from the stage, the band continued with more mayhem. The reels and polkas got faster and more intense, with displays of instrumental duels between Tottori and Fujita. The band finished to more applause, before being demanded back for an encore.
Final Thoughts
To say I enjoyed this gig is a huge understatement. Pinch of Snuff are a band I was itching to see for a while and I am delighted I did. Seeing eight incredibly talented individuals play music they are unbelievably passionate about is one thing, but the trans-cultural effect that music can have is mesmerising. I just hope Pinch of Snuff make this an annual thing. Because if there’s an advertisement needed for modern Ireland, this should be it.
