Irish Bands That Play Folk Music

Looking for some great Irish bands that play folk music? Check out our list of some of the best ones out there!

The Dubliners

The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962. The band consists of five members: John Sheahan, Barney McKenna, Eamonn Campbell, Sean Cannon, and Patsy Watchorn. The Dubliners are known for their signature ballads, such as “The Black Velvet Band” and “The Irish Rover”.

History

The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1962. The original lineup consisted of Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew, Ciarán Bourke and Jim McCann. The band is named after the Dublin-based Joyce collection of short stories, Dubliners. Their music is often associated with the Irish folk revival movement of the 1960s and early 1970s.

The Dubliners were one of the most popular Irish bands of their era and were regularly featured on radio and television in Ireland and internationally. They toured extensively throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

After 50 years of existence, they continue to tour globally and release new recordings on a regular basis; recent releases include LIVE AT THE GAIETY (2011) and DREAM OF THE ROAD (2012).

Music

The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962. The band consists of Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ronnie Drew, Jim McCann, Ciaran Bourke and John Sheahan. The Dubliners have been influential in the folk revival and have been credited with popularising Irish traditional music in Europe and the US.

The Dubliners’ lineup has changed many times over the years; only Barney McKenna and John Sheahan have remained constant members since the band’s formation. Luke Kelly left the band in 1965 due to illness and was replaced by Barney McKenna’s brother Charlie. Charlie left the band shortly afterwards, and was replaced by Paddy Reilly. Ronnie Drew left the band in 1974; he was replaced first by Liam O’Flynn and then by Cathal Hayden. Jim McCann died in 2015, leaving Ciaran Bourke as the only original member of the band still touring with The Dubliners.

The Pogues

The Pogues are an Irish Celtic punk band formed in London in 1982. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with their often gritty, working-class songs that depict the struggles of the Irish people. The band’s musical style combines traditional Irish folk music with punk rock, and their lyrics are often political and social commentary on the Irish people. The Pogues have been credited with helping to bring Irish music to a wider audience, and they are one of the most influential Irish bands of all time.

History

The Pogues were an Irish-British Celtic punk band formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The group reformed in late 2001, and played regularly across the UK and Ireland, Europe, Australia and North America until breaking up again in 2014.

The band was founded in King’s Cross, London, as “Pogue Mahone” – the anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic póg mo thóin, meaning “kiss my arse”. The name was chosen due to its similarity to “pogue”, a slang term for a kiss with one’s fist.

Music

The Pogues were an Irish Celtic punk band founded in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band was distinguished by its eclectic mix of Irish music with rock and roll, punk rock, and traditional folk music, as well as MacGowan’s raucous vocals. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s due to their albums Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985) and If I Should Fall from Grace with God (1988). The Pogues’ musical influences included the Dubliners, Van Morrison, the Clash, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Joe Strummer, and Elvis Presley.

The Pogues’ first album Red Roses for Me was released in 1984 on Stiff Records in Britain and WEA International in the United States. It was produced by Elvis Costello. The album’s title track is a cover of an old Irish ballad Tune:Lannigan’s Ball concerning an ill-fated romance; MacGowan’s original lyrics are based on his own disastrous love life. The album also contains two traditional tunes: “The Quiet Land of Erin” and “Sea Shanty/Barrett’s Privateers”.

In 1985, the Pogues signed to MCA Records in Britain and released their second album Rum Sodomy & the Lash under producer Jerry Dammers of 2 Tone Records fame. The album’s title is a reference to a quotation from Jonathan Swift: “What causes more damage? What is more cruel? To torture a man physically or to torture him mentally? To give him a slow death or a quick one? To make him feel pain or despair?”[1] The album cover art is a painting by Jack Higgins showing French Admiral François Desaix being hanged by poking fun at British Admiral Nelson for ordering the execution without trial during Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt (1798–1801).

The first single from Rum Sodomy & the Lash was “The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn”, which peaked at #32 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1985. In October 1985, “A Pair of Brown Eyes” was released as the second single; it did not chart but remains one of the band’s best-known songs. “The Irish Rover”, another traditional tune on the album, was released as a single in January 1986; it reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

In 1986, drummer Andrew Ranken left the Pogues due to creative differences with Shane MacGowan; he was replaced by Spider Stacy. Stacy had originally joined the band as a tin whistle player but took over on drums when Ranken left.[3]

The Pogues’ third album If I Should Fall from Grace with God was released in 1988; it peaked at #3 on the UK Albums Chart[4] and #60 on Billboard 200.[5] The first single from If I Should Fall from Grace with God was “Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six”, which peaked at #2 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[6] In 1989, “Fairytale of New York”, recorded as a duet with Kirsty MacColl, was released as a single; it reached #2 on both Billboard Hot 100[7] Airplay[8] charts as well as #1 on Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales,[9] and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time in Ireland.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

The Chieftains

The Chieftains are a six-time Grammy Award-winning traditional Irish band from Dublin, Ireland. The band was founded in 1962 by Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts, and Michael Tubridy. The Chieftains have played a vital role in the revival of traditional Irish music and have been instrumental in bringing Irish music to a worldwide audience.

History

The Chieftains are a Grammy award-winning Irish musical group founded in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts and Michael Tubridy. The band has recorded 57 albums, including 58 with Ricky Skaggs and 46 with The Rolling Stones. They have played a major role in the revival of traditional Irish music and in the reintroduction of it to mainstream audiences worldwide. In 1973, they were nominated for a Grammy for their album “The Chieftains 5”. In 1982, they won a BAFTA award for their film “The Year of the French”. In 1987, they were awarded an Honorary degree from Trinity College Dublin. In 1997, they won 3 Grammy awards for “The Long Black Veil”. They have been nominated for 9 Grammy awards in total.

Music

The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish band formed in Dublin in 1962, known for their work playing traditional Irish music. They have played a leading role in the revival of Irish traditional music and have toured the world extensively, bringing traditional Irish music to new audiences. The band has won six Grammy Awards and been nominated for 31, as well as receiving numerous other awards and honors. In 2012, they were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Planxty

Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the early 1970s. The band is notable for its use of multiple instruments and for its fusion of traditional Irish music with contemporary rock and pop influences.

History

Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the 1970s, originating in Dublin. The group is considered to be one of the most important bands in the history of Irish traditional music. They achieved international success with their fusion of traditional Irish music with contemporary folk and rock influences.

The band was formed in October 1972 by four young musicians: Christy Moore (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitar, keyboards), Liam O’Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle) and Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica). The band’s first public appearance was at Andrew’s Lane Theatre in Dublin on 31 October 1972.

Planxty’s first album was released in 1973 and was followed by a number of successful albums throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The band’s final album was released in 2005.

Although the band members have pursued solo careers since the 1980s, they have occasionally reunited for live performances and new recordings. In December 2009, Planxty reunited for a series of five concerts in Dublin and Belfast followed by a UK tour in 2010.

Music

Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the 1960s, consisting of four major figures of the Irish traditional music revival: Christy Moore, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine and Dómhnall Méyrick. The band’s name comes from “Planxty Irwin”, a tune composed by Carolan for one of his patrons, Lady Mary McHugh. The group reunited in 1979 and continued to perform and record until Irvine’s death in March 2002. They have been credited with popularising the use of the bouzouki—a form of long-necked lute or mandolin—in Irish traditional music.

The band was formed in May 1972 as a result of Christy Moore leaving Skara Brae, after he had recorded his second solo album Prosperous with them. In that same year they released their first album Planxty; this was followed a year later with The Well Below the Valley, which included their hit single “Black Is the Colour (of My True Love’s Hair)”. After touring Ireland and Great Britain they returned to the studio to release Cold Blow and the Rainy Night in late 1974; around this time Dónal Lunny left to join Mohammed Ali. He was replaced by Matt Molloy as bouzouki player for live performances, though he did not record with them until 1980’s After The Break.

In October 1975 they released their fourth album365 Planxty: Andy Irvine, Paul Brady; this was Paul Brady’s first appearance on a Planxty album after he had toured with them as a guest musician earlier that year