Carlow Dad Rock Club strikes a chord 

WHEN John Duminy had the idea to start a rock music club in Carlow, he wasn’t expecting world domination. But six months later, as he prepares for Carlow Dad Rock’s first official gig on 20 September, the self-proclaimed 'dadfather' is dreaming big.

“Obviously we’ve got to think big,” says John, his tongue firmly planted in cheek. “There’s going to be London Dad Rock, New York Dad Rock … today Carlow, tomorrow the world.” 

The software engineer and small business owner created the club to solve a problem many amateur musicians face: Where do you go when you love rock music but find yourself, as a hobbyist, jamming solo in the spare room? 

With pubs increasingly favouring solo acoustic acts over full bands, and social outings still recovering from their post-COVID slump, John spotted a gap in the market – and more importantly, a gap in people’s lives.

So what exactly is 'dad rock'? According to John, it’s less about demographics and more about adolescent embarrassment at your music choices. 

“It’s anything that you can imagine a teenager rolling their eyes and saying, oh God, my dad listens to that,” he explains. “You’re talking Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac.” 

Despite the name, John is quick to point out that the club welcomes everyone: men and women, young and old, and those with or without children. The moniker is about the music, not the musicians.

Meeting every two weeks at Scraggs Alley on Tuesday nights, the club operates as a hybrid between casual jam session and regular band practice. It’s designed to overcome the traditional barriers to playing rock music: the need for equipment, a venue, and crucially, other people who share your passion for classic rock.

The club has attracted a diverse core group, including established solo musician Daniel Craig, who welcomes the chance to join a gang and rock out after spending his days performing folk, blues and country. 

There’s also a lecturer from SETU who “has spent decades bonking away on his drums in the garage,” finally emerging from domestic isolation to share his rhythmic talents with the world.

John has been deliberate about fostering what he calls a “nurturing, ego-free environment”. 

It’s a space where the emphasis is on enjoyment rather than perfection, community rather than competition.

Drawing on his background in technology, John sees parallels between his day job and his musical passion. “Music is real time maths,” he said. “It’s all about patterns and repetition and cycles; an awful lot of nerdy techie types enjoy playing music.” 

This analytical approach perhaps explains why his seemingly simple idea has succeeded where others might have failed. 

“It’s quite amazing because it’s not often one has an idea that doesn’t crash and burn,” he says with characteristic humour.

Unlike its cinematic namesake, John’s first rule is the opposite of Fight Club’s famous dictum: “The first rule of Dad Rock Club is tell everybody about it!” 

This openness has helped the club grow from a casual idea into a thriving community with core members, regular spectators, and now, that all-important first official gig.

The transition from jam session to performing act represents a significant milestone for the club, marking its arrival on Carlow’s local music scene. 

It’s proof that sometimes the simplest ideas – giving people something to do on a Tuesday night – can strike the deepest chord.

As John puts it: “It gives people something to do on a Tuesday night, so why not?” 

Carlow Dad Rock performs their debut gig on 20 September at Scraggs Alley. The club meets every two weeks on Tuesday nights and welcomes new members.