Derry teen alt-rock band Growing Pains can't wait to open for IDLES and Chalk
Growing Pains, a young alt‐rock band from Derry, have been announced as the opening act for IDLES and Chalk at Custom House Square on August 26, 2026, as part of this year’s Custom House Square series of open-air concerts.
The performance will mark a remarkable first 18 months for the teenage four‐piece, Aidan Duddy, Sean Gormley, Marty Campbell, and Turlough Hagan, who are aged just 15 and
16.
Frontman Aidan said: “The four of us were already planning to come to Belfast just to see this gig, so to now be on the bill is unreal, we can’t wait to get on that stage!”
Since their debut live performance in the Nerve Centre, Derry in March 2025, Growing Pains
have said they have built a dedicated local fanbase.
Organisers said that their high-energy sets blend original material with covers of artists such as IDLES, Wunderhorse, Bleach 9.3, and The Clash. Since their debut the band have been back and headlined the Nerve Centre’s popular Our Space show as well as performing in other notable local venues, including the historic St Columb’s Hall during a Siege City promoted show.
The band experienced a viral moment that they say opened the door to their debut at Custom House Square. It began when Aidan Duddy reached out to Idles guitarist Mark Bowen, someone he already had an unexpected connection with thanks to a viral moment the previous year. At Idles’ Bristol Block Party gig, Aidan played one of Mark’s guitars on stage in front of 15,000 fans after frontman Joe Talbot spotted his handmade “Can I Play Rottweiler?” sign in the crowd.
A brief onstage exchange between the bandmates led to Joe announcing, “Bring my friend on stage!” A clip of Aidan’s introduction and performance, posted on Idles’ official Instagram shortly after the show, has since reached almost 380,000 views. That moment — though no one realised it at the time helped pave the way for Growing Pains’ upcoming Belfast appearance.
The young musicians said they are taking nothing for granted and that they are already working on their setlist and with warm up shows in preparation for what they described as their ‘once in a lifetime opportunity.’