After the success of their album Carpe Diem and a whirlwind tour, The Opacas took some time out to craft fresh material. And where better to bring those songs to life than in the same studio that hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin?
“Abbey Road is such an iconic place, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” says bassist Pat Boyle. “Our band has always been about having fun and making music - getting to record there was an absolute dream.”
Founding member Mark Raynor did not hesitate when the invite came: “No way was I missing out on this! It was surreal just soaking in the history.”
Guitarist Joe Treacy agrees. “We spent the first hour wandering around in awe. Seeing an old 1960s mixing desk—even though it wasn’t functional—was incredible.”
Keyboardist Peter Tobin was in his element. “They had a real Hammond organ and a grand piano in the studio - absolute heaven! I had a smile on my face all day.”
Drummer Mike McLoughlin sums it up: “From the security at the front door, to the engineers inside, the whole vibe was about making music happen. We walked out that night with five solid tracks, and the bones of a sixth: magic.”
What’s Next for The Opacas?
Lead singer Steve Talbot is already thinking ahead. “Abbey Road was a serious goal. It took nine months of planning.
"Maybe next, we’ll do an intimate candlelit acoustic session. Our ultimate dream [is] playing support in the Big Top at the Galway Arts Festival. Until then, we keep setting new goals... and smashing them.”
Joining The Opacas on the night are their longtime friends KaRoSal, who collaborated on last year’s hit single ‘You Know Me’.
Ticket €10 from www.monroes.ie
