Qween and The Dublin Gospel Choir

Formed in 2018 by a group of seasoned performers, Qween is an Irish tribute band dedicated to meticulously recreating the theatrical magic and “essence” of a classic Queen concert through microscopic detail, using everything from period-correct sixpences as guitar picks to iconic custom costumes.

Their rapid rise in popularity saw them selling out major venues across Ireland and making history in 2023 as the first tribute act to play the main stage at the Forever Young Festival following successful collaborations with artists like Tony Hadley and Mark Shaw.

By drafting the Dublin Gospel Choir in 2022, the band successfully bridged the gap between Queen’s raw live energy and their complex studio arrangements, culminating in massive landmark performances such as a sold-out show for 3,000 fans at King John’s Castle. Despite their professional success, the group faced a significant personal challenge in late 2023 when lead singer Brian Keville was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer; however, the band and the wider community rallied together through viral fundraising efforts supported by various celebrities to aid his recovery and celebrate his life-long passion for performance.

“I’m grateful that fans and musical friends alike jumped on board. We had the biggest gig of our lives, and this helped me get fit again, so it was especially memorable,” said vocalist Brian Keville.

His return to the stage and the band’s story was documented by the RTÉ The Great Pretenders documentary which was has been broadcast several times since its premiere in December 2024.

 “The documentary was great at explaining why musicians do this and showed that can’t really land it with an audience unless you give yourself over entirely to it” adds Brunkard.

 “Bigger stages are a challenge but we’re playing Queen and Queen’s music can engage a festival of 10,000 or one million and we’ll keep focusing on recreating that power as much as we can” said Brunkard.