Diveboy - Regatta: A Bittersweet Trip Down Memory Lane

By Chris Kennedy | Published 8th Sept, 2026

Diveboy

It's fair to say Cork trio Diveboy have been on something of a creative journey. Originally formed back in 2012 as The Burma, the band rebranded as Diveboy in mid-2025, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Since then, they've been building plenty of momentum towards their highly anticipated third album, In Orbit, which is set for release on October 2nd, 2026. Tracks including the summer-ready Suntrap, nostalgic number Glory Days and travel-inspired I'm Not The Only One have already given us a taste of what's to come.

Now, with the album release getting ever closer, Diveboy have unveiled what is expected to be their final single before In Orbit lands.

Diveboy Return With Latest Single

Inspired by the annual regatta - a series of boat races and a major event in vocalist Tony O'Donovan's hometown of Cobh, Co. Cork Regatta taps into that strange feeling of being pulled back towards memories of home.

There's something inherently nostalgic about a hometown event. You can grow older, move on and experience plenty of new things, but certain places and occasions have a habit of bringing you straight back to where you started.

That's exactly the feeling Diveboy capture here.

Regatta opens with a simple riff sitting over a chugging rhythm before gradually building into a bright, melodic slice of indie rock. Crisp rhythm guitar sits underneath a jangly lead line, while the bass and drums lock together to keep things moving.

There's a real sense of momentum to the track, but underneath the upbeat instrumentation there's a definite melancholy.

And that's where the song really works.

O'Donovan's vocals move effortlessly between warm, intimate verses and a more expansive, soaring chorus, giving the track a push and pull between reflection and release.

It's upbeat enough to get the head nodding, but there's something wistful lurking beneath the surface.

The Sound of Summer Coming to an End

The inspiration behind Regetta is perhaps best summed up by O'Donovan himself. Speaking about the track, he explains;

It's a weekend festival that's full of music and life, but I've always found it to be a melancholic time. It probably goes back to my school days when it signalled the summer holidays nearing an end and back to school only around the corner. It's like the circus is packing up and leaving town. There's fireworks in the harbour on the final night and once when I was watching them, the person I was with said, - They always make me sad and I don't know why. That's what sparked the idea for this song.

As the final preview of In Orbit, Regatta also feels like a fitting way to close the door on this particular run of singles. The band's rebrand from The Burma to Diveboy has clearly ushered in a new phase, and these recent releases suggest a band comfortable with exploring both the energetic and more reflective sides of their sound.

With In Orbit arriving on October 2, it'll be interesting to see how Regatta fits into the bigger picture.

Diveboy Regatta - cover artwork — Diveboy - Regatta (Cover Artwork)

Final Verdict

Regatta is a warm, melodic and deceptively melancholic slice of Irish indie rock. Diveboy take a very specific Cobh memory and turn it into something that should resonate with anyone who's ever felt that familiar sadness when summer comes to an end.

It's another promising taste of In Orbit and a strong final single before the album arrives.