The Guzzlers Raise a Glass to Irish Tradition with A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man

By Chris Kennedy | Published 6th Sept, 2026

The Guzzlers have been building quite a reputation since leaving their native Limerick for Liverpool in the summer of 2025. Armed with little more than their guitars, banjo and a collection of original songs, the brothers initially took to the streets, busking outside some of Liverpool’s best-known Irish bars.

It didn’t take long for people to take notice. Invitations to perform inside the bars soon followed, and before long The Guzzlers were appearing at some of the city's most recognisable music venues, including The Jacaranda, The Cavern Club and The Philharmonic.

Their growing reputation eventually led to an even bigger opportunity, with the duo securing a residency at Anfield, where they perform for arriving Liverpool FC supporters on home match days. Not a bad way to turn a bit of street busking into a serious musical adventure.

From Ferry Gigs to 20 Pints To Cherbourg

The brothers originally cut their teeth performing aboard a ferry, entertaining passengers with traditional Irish songs. It was one particularly alcohol-fuelled journey, however, that provided the inspiration for their debut single.

After one too many pints, the brothers found with a song idea. The result was 20 Pints To Cherbourg, a suitably chaotic introduction to The Guzzlers' particular brand of Irish folk storytelling.

They followed it with The Drunken Tales of Gerry MacLean, further establishing their knack for combining humour, fast-paced storytelling and the kind of infectious energy that sounds tailor-made for a crowded pub.

Now comes their latest offering, A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man.

The Guzzlers – A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man

At its heart, A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man is a tongue-in-cheek celebration of one of Ireland's most famous exports - the humble pint of Guinness.

The banjo is front and centre, immediately giving the track its traditional folk character, while heavily strummed open guitar chords provide a steady rhythmic backbone. The brothers' vocals work particularly well together, with their sibling harmonies giving the song the feel of a proper tavern sing-along rather than something polished to within an inch of its life in the studio.

And that's part of the charm.

For much of the song, The Guzzlers keep things relatively restrained, allowing the storytelling and vocals to take centre stage. There's a relaxed quality to the arrangement that makes it easy to imagine the track being performed in a packed Irish pub, pint in hand and voices joining in from every corner of the room.

Then things change.

As the song approaches its closing stages, the pace suddenly picks up. The banjo kicks into gear, the energy levels rise and the track shifts from laid-back folk sing-along to a driving, fast-paced anthem.

It's an effective change of gear and gives the song a proper lift towards the finish.

A Toast to the Pint of Plain

The inspiration behind the track is summed up perfectly by The Guzzlers themselves:

No matter what happens to you in life, you could lose your job, your house or the wife and kids but a pint of plain will never let you down...unless you get one in a dodgy pub. This is a song celebrating Ireland's favourite drink, Guinness. It's an old Irish expression which means that you can always rely on a pint of Guinness to never let you down compared to most other things in life which tend to normally do.

It's a typically tongue-in-cheek explanation for a song that doesn't take itself too seriously.

The Guzzlers Look Towards Their Debut Album

The single also arrives at an interesting point in The Guzzlers' development.

In November 2025, the brothers entered the studio with producer Jon Withnall to begin recording their debut album. Withnall's previous production credits include work with artists such as Coldplay, Rihanna and Echo & the Bunnymen, making the forthcoming album an intriguing next step for the Limerick duo.

With a growing catalogue of original material and a reputation forged through live performance, The Guzzlers have already built a distinctive identity around Irish folk, humour and storytelling.

The debut album, due later this year, should give them an opportunity to show whether there's more to their sound than drinking songs and pub-ready anthems.

The Guzzlers - A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man (Cover Artwork)

Final Verdict

A Pint Of Plain Is Your Only Man is The Guzzlers doing what they do best - mixing Irish folk, humour and storytelling into a song that sounds made for a packed pub. The banjo-driven arrangement, sibling harmonies and sudden burst of energy towards the end give the track plenty of character, while its tongue-in-cheek subject matter keeps everything firmly in The Guzzlers' world.

It might not be the most complicated song you'll hear this year, but it doesn't need to be. This is music designed to bring people together, raise a few voices and, presumably, raise a few glasses along the way.