Irish Folk Music Videos You Need to See
Irish music is a genre of folk music that developed in Ireland. It has been influenced by many other genres of music, such as English and Scottish folk music, but is uniquely Irish. In this blog post, we will share with you some of the best Irish folk music videos that you need to see!
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were an influential Irish folk music group from the 1950s and 1960s. Their easygoing and entertaining style made them popular with both traditional Irish music fans and a younger, more general audience. The group’s repertoire included both Irish folk songs and their own compositions. They also recorded a number of albums of traditional Irish music.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – “The Rising of the Moon”
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were an Irish folk music group, popular in the 1960s and ’70s. The group’s debut album, The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, was released in 1961 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The group was particularly popular in the United States, where they frequently appeared on television shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show. They continued to release albums throughout the 1960s and ’70s, including several live albums. Their last album, Reunion Concert, was released in 1979. The group disbanded in 1996 after the death of Tommy Makem.
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem – “The Wild Colonial Boy”
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were an influential Irish folk music group active in the 1950s and 1960s. The group is most famous for their recordings of traditional Irish songs, including “The Wild Colonial Boy,” “The Rising of the Moon,” and “Danny Boy.” The group’s popularity helped to launch the career of folk singer Bob Dylan, who was a frequent guest on their television show.
The Dubliners
If you’re looking for some great Irish folk music, you need to check out The Dubliners. This band has been around for over 50 years and their music is truly timeless. They’ve released many great albums and their live performances are always electric. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best Irish folk music videos from The Dubliners.
The Dubliners – “The Black Velvet Band”
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962. The band’s lineup has undergone a number of changes over the years, but the group has always consisted of at least four members: two vocalists, a banjo player, and a guitarist. The Dubliners are known for their energetic live performances and for their recordings of traditional Irish songs.
The Dubliners have released more than 30 albums, and they have been awarded four Grammy nominations. The group’s best-known member is singer Luke Kelly, who was with the band from 1962 until his death in 1984. Other notable members include guitarist Barney McKenna, singer Ronnie Drew, and banjo player John Sheahan.
The Dubliners – “The Black Velvet Band”
“The Black Velvet Band” is a Traditional Irish folk song about a young man who is sent to Australia as a convict after being caught stealing a watch. The song tells the story of the man’s life in Australia and his eventual escape back to Ireland.
The Dubliners recorded “The Black Velvet Band” for their debut album, The Dubliners (1964). The song has since been covered by many other artists, including Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen.
The Dubliners – “The Irish Rover”
The Dubliners are one of the most well-known Irish folk bands, and “The Irish Rover” is one of their most iconic songs. The song tells the story of a ship that sails from Ireland to America, and the various mishaps that befall it along the way. The band’s performance is lively and energetic, and the song is sure to get your feet tapping.
Planxty
Planxty – “The Blacksmith”
Few groups have shaped the sound of Irish traditional music like Planxty. The group, which featured some of the most influential musicians in Irish music history, popularized a unique blend of traditional tunes and original compositions that helped define Irish folk music for generations.
One of Planxty’s most iconic tunes is “The Blacksmith,” a slow air composed by group member Liam O’Flynn. The tune has been covered by countless artists, but Planxty’s version remains one of the most beautiful and atmospheric renditions ever recorded.
Planxty – “The Well Below the Valley”
Planxty is an Irish folk music group formed in the 1960s, consisting of Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Liam O’Flynn and Andy Irvine. The group is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential groups in Irish music history. They were at the forefront of the Irish folk music revival, helping to popularize traditional Irish music around the world.
“The Well Below the Valley” is one of Planxty’s most famous songs. It is a dark ballad about a young woman who is lured to her death by a false lover. The song was originally recorded on the band’s self-titled debut album in 1973, and has been covered by many other artists over the years.
If you’re a fan of Irish music, or just want to see some incredible musicians at work, check out this video of Planxty performing “The Well Below the Valley.”
The Chieftains
No folk music video list would be complete without The Chieftains. The Irish group has been making music since the 1960s and has won six Grammy Awards. They are best known for their traditional Irish instruments and vocals.
The Chieftains – “The Foggy Dew”
The Chieftains are an Irish folk music group founded in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Sean Keane and Jim Sullivan. The band has undergone numerous personnel changes over the years; the only remaining original member is Paddy Moloney. The Chieftains’ sound is marked by the use of traditional Irish instruments such as the uilleann pipes, tin whistle, melodeon, fiddle, hammered dulcimer and bodhrán; in more recent years they have incorporated elements of rock and roll, jazz, classical music and even country and western into their repertoire.
The Chieftains have been nominated for five Grammy Awards and have won six. They were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002; in 2012 they received a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album for their work on San Patricio (2010), a collaboration with Mexican rock band Mana. In 2013 they were given a Grammy Award for Best Celtic Album for Voice of Ages (2012).
The Chieftains – “The Long Black Veil”
The Chieftains are an Irish folk music group founded in Dublin in November 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Sean Potts and Michael Tubridy. The band had their first rehearsals at Moloney’s house, with Tubridy, Martin Fay and David Fallon also attending.
The Chieftains have won six Grammy Awards during their fifty-year career. They have played for Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, Pope John Paul II, Queen Elizabeth II and many other dignitaries. In 1997 they performed for President Clinton again at the White House Folk Music Festival. They were described by Rolling Stone magazine as “the greatest traditional Irish band.”
In 2002 they were honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the United Kingdom. In 2012 they celebrated their 50th anniversary with the release of the album Voice of Ages and a world tour. The tour culminated with five sold-out nights at Carnegie Hall in New York City in March 2013.
The Bothy Band
If you’re a fan of Irish folk music, then you need to check out the Bothy Band. This Irish folk music group was formed in the 1970s and quickly become one of the most popular and influential traditional Irish bands of all time. Check out some of their best videos below.
The Bothy Band – “The Rambling Irishman”
The Bothy Band was an Irish traditional music band formed in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Paddy Glackin (fiddle), Tommy Peoples (fiddle), Dónal Lunny (bouzouki, guitar), Matt Molloy (flute), Paddy Keenan (uilleann pipes, tin whistle), Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill (keyboards, vocals) and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (guitar, vocals).
The band was named after a bothy, a type of Scottish rural dwelling. Their self-titled debut album, released in 1977 on the Green Linnet label, is generally considered a classic of Irish traditional music.
The Bothy Band – “The Galway Shawl”
The Bothy Band was an Irish traditional music band formed in 1975. The group’s name refers to bothies, basic hut accommodations used by workers in the Scottish Highlands. The Bothy Band pioneered a unique style of Irish traditional music that incorporated elements of Scottish and Cape Breton music.
The band was founded by Paddy Reilly (vocals, guitar, bodhrán), Donal Lunny (bouzouki), Kevin Burke (fiddle), Matt Molloy (flute), and Michael O’Domhnaill (guitar, vocals). The group’s first album, Old Hailes, was released in 1976.
The band became hugely popular in Ireland and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States. They appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live, and their music was featured in the film Oscar and Lucinda.
The Bothy Band dissolved in 1979, but Lunny, Molloy, and O’Domhnaill went on to form the supergroup Planxty. Burke later joined the American folk band Christy Moore & De Dannan.
