How All Together Now headliners Fontaines D.C. rose to the top

Fontaines D.C. can anticipate a heroes' homecoming as they headline the opening night of All Together Now festival this weekend. Ed Power charts their rise to the top.

(L-R) Carlos O'Connell, Tom Coll, Conor Deegan III and Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. arrive at the Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2023/24 on January 13, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Gucci)

The lights went down, and five anonymous musicians stepped from the wings, their arrival watched by a crowd of fewer than 25. 

It was October 2017, and Mike The Pies, a popular pub and live music venue in Listowel Co Kerry, was hosting The Hot Sprockets, an indie soul band known for their jaunty, folksy sound.