Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like Fontaines DC — and the music that made them

Post-Punk Revival · 2017-present

Dublin post-punk poets channeling urban alienation into anthemic fury

Fontaines D.C. are an Irish post-punk band from Dublin who emerged in 2017 with literary urgency and working-class authenticity. Their razor-sharp songwriting combines Shane MacGowan's storytelling with Joy Division's intensity, making them the most vital voice in contemporary British and Irish guitar music.

Essential tracks

►Big

►Boys in the Better Land

►A Hero's Death

Did you know

They met while studying English literature at BIMM Dublin and bonded over poetry before forming the band

Their band name comes from a character in the Godfather films combined with 'DC' for Dublin City

Lead singer Grian Chatten wrote most of their debut album's lyrics in cafés around Dublin, documenting gentrification

“Dublin's literary punks channel working-class poetry through driving post-punk urgency.”

generations
of influence

Influence tree

Trace Fontaines DC's roots back through history

Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.

Fontaines D.C.

2017-present

The Fall

1976-2018

cited

Joy Division

1976-1980

cited

Wire

1976-present

sonic

The Stooges

1967-1974

sonic

The Velvet Underground

1964-1973

movement

Neu!

1971-1975

sonic

↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.

What makes the sound

Sonic elements

Repetitive, hypnotic guitar riffs

Spoken-word influenced vocal delivery

Driving, motorik-influenced rhythms

Literary, working-class lyrical themes

Start with these tracks

Boys in the Better Land

A Hero's Death

Jackie Down the Line

Big Shot

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Protomartyr

Detroit post-punk with literary vocals and relentless rhythm section.

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Squid

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The Murder Capital

Fellow Dublin band with similar intensity and dark post-punk atmospherics.

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About this page

Music like Fontaines DC — Fontaines D.C. are an Irish post-punk band from Dublin who emerged in 2017 with literary urgency and working-class authenticity. Their razor-sharp songwriting combines Shane MacGowan's storytelling with Joy Division's intensity, making them the most vital voice in contemporary British and Irish guitar music.

Artists like Fontaines DC today include Shame, Idles, Dry Cleaning, Protomartyr. If you enjoy Fontaines DC, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Fontaines DC and songs like Fontaines DC are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.