Irish Folk Bands: The Best in Folk Music
Contents
Looking for some great Irish folk bands to check out? Here are some of our favorites!
Celtic Thunder
Celtic Thunder is a Grammy-nominated Irish singing group formed in August 2007, ranging in age from 15 to 47. Celtic Thunder has released eleven albums total, as well as three live concert DVDs. Their first album, Take Me Home, was released in 2008 and their most recent album, Emerald: Musical Gems, in 2017. Celtic Thunder has had five number one albums on the Billboard World Music charts and has sold over one million albums total.
Overview
Formed in 2007, Celtic Thunder is a Irish folklore group known for their eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Celtic music. The band has released twelve studio albums, three live albums, and three DVDs. They have sold over two million albums and have performed sold-out tours across Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Celtic Thunder’s music is a mix of traditional Irish folk songs and modern pop hits reimagined with a Celtic twist. The band is made up of six vocalists: Emmet Cahill, Damian McGinty, Ryan Kelly, Michael O’Dwyer, Keith Harkin, and Colm Keegan. Celtic Thunder’s live shows are known for their high energy and impressive production values, with elaborate set designs and costumes reminiscent of a Broadway show.
If you’re looking for the best in Celtic music, look no further than Celtic Thunder!
Music
Celtic Thunder is a contemporary Irish folk band formed in 2007, boasting a wide array of musical styles. With their unique blend of traditional and modern influences, Celtic Thunder has something for everyone.
Their first album, Take Me Home, was released in 2007 and spent an impressive 19 weeks at the top of the World Music charts. Celtic Thunder has since released six more albums, all of which have been met with critical acclaim. In addition to their studio albums, Celtic Thunder has also released several live DVDs and CDs, showcasing their thrilling stage performances.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Irish folk music or just looking to expand your musical horizons, Celtic Thunder is sure to please.
Members
Celtic Thunder is a singing group composed of six male soloists who perform both solo and ensemble numbers. The soloists are Nathan Carter, Keith Harkin, Neil Byrne, Emmett Cahill, Ryan Kelly, and Damian McGinty. Celtic Thunder first appeared on PBS in 2007 with their show Celtic Thunder: Take Me Home.
Since then, Celtic Thunder has released twelve albums, three DVD/Blu-rays, and a live concert CD/DVD. They have toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition to their own headlining tours, Celtic Thunder has also shared the stage with musical greats such as Sting, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Bananarama, Jennifer Hudson, Il Divo, and Paul Simon.
Clannad
Clannad is a Grammy award-winning Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal. Their music is a mixture of traditional Irish folk with a modern pop sensibility, which has helped them to appeal to a wide range of audiences. Clannad has been influential in the folk music scene, both in Ireland and internationally, and their music has been featured in films, television shows, and video games.
Overview
Clannad is an Irish folk band formed in 1970 in the village of Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. The group’s first album, Clannad in Concert, was recorded live and released in 1973. Upon its release, the album reached No. 1 on the UK Folk chart and No. 2 on the Irish Folk chart. The group has recorded twenty-two studio albums, of which nineteen have been released in Ireland and the UK, and three in North America. Clannad has sold over fifteen million records worldwide.
Music
Clannad is an Irish folk band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal. The group’s first album, Clare to Here, was released in 1973 and they went on to achieve international success with their next two albums, Fuaim and Crann Úll. The band has won several awards throughout their career, including a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 1995. They have also been nominated for three Brit Awards and two Emmy Awards.
The band’s music is a mixture of traditional Irish folk music and modern pop music, with their earlier work being more folk-oriented and their later work being more pop-oriented. Their sound has also been influenced by other genres such as rock and roll, Celtic rock, new age music, and electronica. The band has released nineteen studio albums, seven live albums, four compilation albums, three video albums, fifty-three singles, eighteen video singles, and thirty-six music videos.
Members
Clannad is a musical group from County Donegal, Ireland. The group formed in 1970 and consists of siblings Moya Brennan, Ciarán Brennan, Pól Brennan, and Noel Duggan. Clannad is widely considered to be one of the most influential bands in Irish Folk music, and have won numerous awards throughout their career.
Clannad’s music has been highly praised for its use of traditional Irish instruments and themes. The band is perhaps best known for their hit song “Theme from Harry’s Game”, which was used as the theme tune for the British television series “Harry’s Game”. Other well-known songs by Clannad include “In A Lifetime”, “I Will Find You”, and ” fields of gold”.
The Chieftains
Often considered the finest and most influential traditional Irish band, the Chieftains formed in Dublin in November 1962. The sextet is composed of leader Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, melodeon, bodhran), Davy Spillane (uilleann pipes, low whistles, flute, bodhran), Kevin Conneff (bodhran), Matt Molloy (flute), Michael Tubridy (tin whistle, melodeon, concertina), and Derek Bell (harp, oboe, tiompan, viola, mandolin, bouzouki). The Chieftains’ music is the distillation of centuries of Irish folk traditions.
Overview
The Chieftains are an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1963, by Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts and Michael Tubridy. The band has undergone numerous personnel changes over the years, with Moloney and Matt Molloy being the only remaining original members. The band’s current lineup includes Moloney, Molloy, Kevin Conneff, Trey Hensley, Derekelligan and David Curley.
The Chieftains are one of the most internationally successful Irish bands of all time, with over 30 million records sold worldwide. They have won six Grammy Awards and been nominated for eight others. They have also been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002 and the lifetime achievement award at the Celtic Colours International Festival in 2009.
The Chieftains’ music is characterized by its use of traditional Irish instruments, such as the uilleann pipes, tin whistle, fiddle and bodhran. They often incorporate elements of other musical genres into their arrangements, including rock, jazz and classical music. Their work has helped to revive interest in traditional Irish music and introduced it to new audiences around the world.
Music
Formed in Dublin in 1962, The Chieftains are an Irish folk band that has brought traditional Irish music to a global audience for over five decades. The band has won six Grammy Awards and been nominated for twelve, as well as receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They have collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Van Morrison, Sting, Sinéad O’Connor, and The Rolling Stones. They have also appeared in several films, most notably Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 classic Barry Lyndon.
The Chieftains’ musical style is based on traditional Irish Folk music, but they are not afraid to experiment with other genres and have been credited with helping to popularize Celtic music around the world. They have released over 40 albums, many of which have been certified Gold or Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Their best-known album is probably 1995’s The Long Black Veil, which features collaborations with some of the biggest names in popular music.
The Chieftains are currently led by founder Paddy Moloney and play regularly all over the world to sold-out crowds. If you’re a fan of folk music, or just looking for a great live band to see, make sure to check out The Chieftains on their next tour!
Members
The Chieftains are an Irish folk band that was founded in 1962. The band has gone through several lineup changes over the years, with the current members being Paddy Moloney, Matt Molloy, Kevin Conneff, Michael Tubridy, and Brian McGrath. The Chieftains are known for their unique sound, which combines traditional Irish instruments with a more contemporary style of music.
Over the years, the Chieftains have released more than 40 albums, and have won six Grammy Awards. They have also been nominated for a number of other awards, including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In addition to their musical achievements, the Chieftains have also been involved in a number of charitable causes, such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace.
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are one of the most iconic Irish folk bands. They formed in 1962 and have been entertaining audiences with their traditional Irish folk music ever since. The Dubliners are known for their lively stage presence and for their signature Irish tunes. If you’re a fan of Irish folk music, then you’re sure to enjoy the Dubliners’ music.
Overview
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962. The band is named after the collection of short stories by James Joyce, Dubliners. The Original lineup of the band featured Luke Kelly on vocals and banjo, Barney McKenna on vocals and tenor banjo, Ronnie Drew on vocals and guitar, Ciaran Bourke on vocals and tin whistle, and John Sheahan on fiddle. The band has had many lineup changes over the years but has always been anchored by one of the original members.
The Dubliners were one of the first bands to bring Irish folk music to a worldwide audience. They were particularly popular in continental Europe, where they toured extensively in the 1960s and 1970s. They also had a number of hits in Ireland and the UK, including ” Seven Drunken Nights”, “I’m a Rover”, and “The Black Velvet Band”. In 2002, Luke Kelly died suddenly while in France; this was a huge blow to the band, but they continued touring and released a new album in 2004. Barney McKenna also died in 2012, but Ronnie Drew, Ciaran Bourke (who had retired from touring due to ill health), and John Sheahan carried on as a trio until Bourke’s death in88 8888 . The Dubliners continue to tour today with a new lineup that includes some of Ireland’s best traditional musicians.
The Dubliners are one of the most influential Irish folk bands of all time. They have helped to keep traditional Irish music alive and have inspired many other artists. If you’re a fan of Irish music, or just good music in general, make sure to check out their albums!
Music
The Dubliners are one of the most influential Irish folk bands of all time. Formed in 1962, the band originally consisted of Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciaran Bourke, and Ronnie Drew. The Dubliners became well-known for their hearty renditions of traditional Irish songs as well as their own original compositions. Over the years, the lineup of the band changed several times, but some of the most notable members included John Sheahan, Paddy Moloney, and Ewan McColl. The Dubliners were inducted into the Irish Music Hall of Fame in 2002 and continued to perform together until Kelly’s death in 1984.
Members
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962. The band’s original lineup featured Luke Kelly (vocals, banjo), Barney McKenna (vocals, tenor banjo), Ronnie Drew (vocals, guitar), Ciarán Bourke (vocals, tin whistle) and John Sheahan (fiddle). The Dubliners have released over 30 albums and are best-known for their high-energy live shows.
The band has undergone several lineup changes over the years, with Kelly and Drew being the only constant members. Bourke left the group in 1964 and was replaced by Paddy Moloney. Moloney left in 1974 to form The Chieftains and was replaced by Paul Brady. Sheahan left in 1995 and was replaced by Eamonn Campbell.
The Dubliners were one of the first Irish folk bands to achieve international success, touring extensively throughout Europe, North America and Australia. They are credited with popularizing Irish folk music and helping to revive traditional Irish songs. The band has been honoured with numerous awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk band that was founded in the 1970s. The band is known for its innovative approach to folk music and for its use of traditional Irish instruments. Planxty has exerted a considerable influence on the folk music scene in Ireland and beyond.
Overview
Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the early 1970s, by four musicians who met while studying music at University College Dublin. The original lineup consisted of Christy Moore (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitar, keyboards), Andy Irvine (mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, harmonica, hurdy-gurdy), and Liam O’Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle).
The band’s first album was Planxty (1973), which was followed by The Well Below the Valley (1973) and Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974). After Moore and Lunny left the band in 1975 to pursue solo careers, they were replaced by Matt Molloy (flute) and Bill Whelan (keyboards). This lineup recorded two more albums: After the Break (1979) and Words and Music (1983). Planxty reunited in 2003 with its original lineup. The band has toured extensively throughout Ireland and Europe.
Planxty’s music is characterized by its use of traditional Irish instruments and song structures. Their tunes often incorporate elements of Classical music; Moore has cited Bach as one of his biggest influences. The band is also known for its close harmonies and complex arrangements.
Music
Planxty is an Irish folk music band founded in the early 1970s by Christy Moore, Liam O’Flynn and Andy Irvine. One of the most influential bands of the Celtic music revival, they were celebrated for their energetic and often improvised renditions of traditional Irish songs and tunes.
The band’s lineup changed several times over the years, but always included some of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians, such as Donal Lunny, Paul Brady and Dónal McKenna. In recent years, original members Liam O’Flynn and Christy Moore have retired from active touring, but Planxty has continued to perform and record with a new generation of Irish musicians.
If you’re a fan of traditional Irish music, or just looking for a good folk band to listen to, Planxty is definitely worth checking out.
Members
Planxty is an Irish folk band founded in the early 1970s, consisting of Andy Irvine (vocals, mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitar, keyboards), Christy Moore (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Liam O’Flynn (uilleann pipes, tin whistle). The group’s success was at its greatest in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. They disbanded in December 1983 but reformed in October 2003 and have continued to tour and release records.
The band’s name comes from a 17th-century Irish planxty written by Turlough O’Carolan for one of his patrons, Mary MacDermott Roe. The tune “Planxty Irwin” is likely to be unrelated.
