Cry Before Dawn are set to make a much-anticipated return to Waterford this Saturday, August 1st, with a special show at Bank Lane, continuing a relationship with the city that stretches back to their breakthrough days in the late 1980s.

Speaking to John Keane on WLR’s On the Fringe, frontman Brendan Wade admitted he’s ‘a little bit tired’ after a hectic run that included a storming main-stage appearance at Forest Fest. The band drew a huge crowd there, with fans packing in ‘from the front of the stage right to the back and beyond.’

At the heart of the current run is their brand new single, ‘Where Are the Heroes?’, which is a socially charged track reflecting what Wade calls ‘the worst I’ve seen it in my lifetime’ in terms of global crises and polarisation. The song, already tested live at Cypress Avenue in Cork, Swords Castle, and Forest Fest, has been met with what Brendan describes as an ‘immediate’ connection from audiences.

The interview also touched on the band’s long-standing bond with Waterford venues such as the Bridge Hotel and Norris Minor, and on how their music continues to reach new, younger fans, often through parents’ old albums. With vinyl back in demand, their recent release hit No. 1 in the independent charts. Cry Before Dawn are leaning on physical formats to help sustain the costs of touring.

Saturday’s Bank Lane gig promises a mix of classics, new material, and a first local airing for ‘Where Are the Heroes?’. A night for long-time followers and new converts alike.