t started, as quite a few things around O’Really tend to do, with an idea that probably should have remained a joke - but it didn’t.

Somewhere between Irish music, late nights, pubs, and our recurring conviction that things become considerably more interesting when you actually go ahead and do them, a thought emerged:

O’Really should, of course, have its own stout.

Not a beer with the band’s name simply slapped on the label. Not merchandise in liquid form. But a stout that genuinely belongs to the band.

And that’s where Open Water Brewery entered the picture.

From idea to beer

O’Really and Open Water Brewery, in many ways, inhabit the same world. Local, handcrafted, and with a certain fondness for doing things properly.

So the idea quickly evolved from “wouldn’t that be fun?” into a considerably more dangerous question:

“Okay. How do we actually do it?”

The result is O’Really Signature Irish Stout.

A dark Irish stout created together with Open Water Brewery, with a clear idea of what it should be: straightforward, dark and substantial, yet easy-drinking enough to make you want another pint.

A label became part of the story

Once the beer began to take shape, it obviously needed a face.

The label is built around the meeting of our two worlds. Open Water’s banjo takes centre stage. O’Really gets its rightful place. Black, stout green and a creamy head do the rest.

It shouldn’t look like a band decided to make a beer.

It should look as though this beer ought to have existed all along.

And that’s more or less where we are now.

This isn’t the end of the story of O’Really Irish Stout.

It’s the beginning.

Sláinte. ☘️

— O’Really

If our blog photo convinces you an Irish wolfhound is secretly running our booking desk, you’re not far off — he’s very good at looking important while holding the line. For real bookings, questions, or to say hello (treats accepted but not required), contact Henrik:

Email: Henrik.forsell@gmail.com Phone: +358 40 0529472

We look forward to hearing from you — the hound promises to sit politely while you call.

Lolo’s Sea Side Café (Snäckö, Åland north coast)

A true hidden gem on Snäckö, Lolo’s Sea Side Café is part of the charming Snäckö apple farm and sits where land meets water: a café building mounted on a scow and an array of dining and performance spaces spread out on weathered wooden docks and among picturesque boat sheds. The setting is quietly spectacular — low-slung red sheds, neatly stacked crates, apple trees in the background, and the gentle clink of mooring lines.

Expect a soul sanctuary with an intimate, unpretentious atmosphere. The performance area will be right out on the docks, where the audience can gather on. From this vantage point you’ll enjoy an open, panoramic view of the harbor — a joyful parade of small boats bobbing close enough to feel part of the evening. It’s common to spot curious skippers drifting by to listen from their decks, creating a delightful cross-current of land and sea spectatorship.

Food and drink here lean toward simple, well-made island fare: light plates, seasonal salads, homemade pastries, and a selection of local ciders and coffees from the apple farm. Service is relaxed and friendly; the emphasis is on linger-worthy moments rather than formal dining. Bring a light jacket for breezy evenings and a sense of ease for barefoot-style island vibes.

One thing for sure — let there be craic: expect lively music, warm conversation, and a welcoming crowd. Whether you come for the tunes, the view, or the rare sense of being tucked away in a coastal pocket of Åland life, Lolo’s delivers an unforgettable summer island experience.

See you there — come ready for great music, relaxed company, and a perfect seaside sunset.

We’re heading out on a small summer tour through the beautiful Åland Islands archipelago.

Tuesday, July 7 — Kallas SkärGård (country house restaurant), Vårdö Join us at Kallas SkärGård, a beloved country house restaurant where we’ve performed a few times before. The venue is as much a feast for the senses as it is a place to hear music: a lush garden overflowing with seasonal flowers and productive vegetable beds provides a peaceful, photogenic backdrop that helps set the tone for the evening.

For this special summer event a large tent has been installed, creating an intimate yet festive atmosphere and sheltering the audience from any uncertain island weather. The tent enhances acoustics and brings everyone closer to the stage, encouraging conversation, laughter, and that warm communal feeling known here as craic.

This is also the home turf for Simon, our talented lead singer, and his local connection adds an extra layer of energy and warmth to the night. He’ll deliver a set that blends familiar favorites and new surprises, performed with the relaxed confidence of someone on familiar ground. Demand was high—almost all the bookable tables sold out in less than 48 hours—so expect a lively, well-attended evening.

Whether you come for the food, the garden, or the music, Kallas SkärGård promises a memorable summer night in a stunning island setting. We’re looking forward to sharing the stage and the table with you.

The origin of the name O’Really maybe uncertain. But one version of it is that some guy, at some point, asked:

- Eeh, which of you are from Ireland?

- honestly ... none

- O’Really?

The story of O’Really is likewise unlikely.

The adventure begun when Robert stumbled upon Simon at the local musicshop, where he literally kneeled in front of him, asking him to put together an “irish style” folk group. A few months later the group had their first gathering in the dining room at Ella’s absolutely stunning hotel. The woodfire sparkeled playfully, the coffeetable was set like a christmas tree with all kinds of stuff, like snacks, pastrys, cheese, wine, beers, you name it - in abundance. Candles were lit, enhancing the atmosphere. The setting was, precisely, cinematic. O’Really was born

In the beginning the line-up was five members. Ella, Simon, Henrik, Niclas and Robert. But soon enough four of them decided to reinforce the band with a more reliable guitarist, due to the lack of trust in Robert’s ability in showing up to rehearsals and gigs. This was a smart move and Kristoffer eventually completed the band.

The first gig was at a private birthdayparty, celebrating a local guy’s 60 years anniversary. The set-up was an all acoustic gig playing all kinds of songs from the irish repertoire, in a beautiful garden with very happy people. Since there were different levels of knowledge of the songs, within the band, a lot of switching between the instruments was going on - just in order to make the gig run smooth. O’Really found this was quite a fun thing to do, so there has been great deal of swapping around ever since.

Funny thing... the elderman of the group, Henrik, is a devoted user of “Microsoft Excel” and the whole repertoire is carefully documented in loads of different Excel sheets categorizing playlists, keys, and instruments. None of these are readable without serious reading glasses, the playlists are never to be followed, quite often the keys are changed and even more often there are different opinions of wich instrument each member is assigned for. There is still a slight possibility to see one of these curiosities at a gig - the excel sheet

O’Really did not spend much time on rehearsing, to the botheration of some of the members, before the early sessions at the local microbrewery Stallhagen on the Åland countryside. In the beginning playing for “beers and meals”, but later on the group is on the pay-roll and the relationship between O’Really and Pub Stallhagen is going strong as a happy marriage - or even better.

2019 has been a very exciting year. The gigs piled up and eventually O’Really was invited to Ireland to play at a festival on the Irish west coast. The band was granted a travel beneficiary and took the chance to have a closer look at the monumental Irish music scene. The Irish traditional music and its culture is indeed something to admire and a decent person pays respect to it and honors its representatives. On the other hand, you have to realize that the celtic scene is a huge thing going on, and there are thousands of musicians and bands all over the world who are dreaming of doing exactly this - traveling to Ireland. However, the experience from the irish tour is that it is possible to play this music in its own habitat, achieving the same cheers, applaudes and admiration as if we were back home. This, certainly, has to do with the focus, energy and the love of music emerged from all the six of us. Or maybe it tells us a bit of the Irish mentality. A nice, warm and big hearted welcoming. In a world, that unfortunately keeps on distorting into some unfriendly hate driven darkness, this is the message we’d like to address. Come together, let’s have a good

“craic”, listen to this lovely music and enjoy this unlikely band O’Really live

The O’Wheely tour 2027