ODDS’N’SODS. A CELTIC-PUNK ROUND UP DECEMBER 2022

It’s cliched to be cynical at Christmas so roll out the Yuletide jumper, Bailey’s and good cheer and start your Christmas with this months Odds’n’Sods!

A brand new Odds’n’Sods round-up of all this months Celtic-Punk entertainment from the scene’s bands big and small, established or just starting out.

Sad news of the passing of Garrick ‘Gary’ Roberts (1950-2022) founder member and lead guitarist with Irish post-Punk band THE BOOMTOWN RATS. R.I.E.P.

We kick off with a recently filmed video from the marvellous London-Irish Celtic-Punk band CROCK OF BONES giving Shane’s ‘Dark Streets’ a thrashing! Filmed by Eric Dissent at The Pelton Arms in Sarf London we will have another video of them coming soon. Uploaded onto the London Celtic Punks You Tube page we’ve plenty of videos from our shows from over the years.

Sad news from Germany that a particularly favourite band of mine THE POKES from Berlin are calling it a day. They announced on Facebook the other day

The Pokes, as a band, are now in a sleeping beauty sleep.

The idea and the songs live on – and whether one day a prince rides by and kisses the musical memento will show. Many thanks to all the visitors and supporters who have encouraged us over the years.

Should news emerge, they will be presented here.

So much for now. (Ian)

New track from the Flatfoot 56 side project 6′ 10. Named after singer Tobin’s height they are a perfect foil for F56’s Celtic-Streetpunk. The song was written as a commission for friends who wanted their story to be reflected in song.

THE PUNKABILLYS blazed bright for a short time across the Celtic-Punk press a few years ago and then seem to disappear. Whether or not they kept on playing I don’t know but it’s great to see them back with a new single and an new album on the horizon too.

Celtic Celtic-Punk from Brittany with BRETONS covering one of Flogging Molly’s most popular tracks.  A musical project with trad and rock influences the collective records traditional songs and covers from the wide Celtic scene starring musicians from Kervegans, Digresk, Ev and Soldat Louis.

London Folk-Punk folk MAN THE LIFEBOATS have a great new track about a place dear to their hearts in old old East London. They have a new album out too, Soul Of Albion, that if we gave scores then I’d reckon it a easy 8/10!

Italian Celtic-Punk band MENEGUINNESS have a new album out called Irish Caravan. It’s available from https://bfan.link/irish-caravan and is called ‘Cry Of The Banshee’ is the first single and bouncy mix of Ska and Celtic in a great video.

Dorset Punk band SINFUL MAGGIE have a new album out, Psycho & Sycophants, and are really beginning to make waves now in the Punk scene with lots of headline gigs coming their way and well deserved too. Available from their store along with a load of cracking new shirt designs.

Dutch Celtic rockers MAGGIE’S FLOCK have a new single ‘Glastonbury Tor’. Stream or download it here: https://lnkfi.re/d3F4On7r. A song about a night the singer spent at that wondrous pilgrimage-site for hippies, trippies and flippies…

The excellent JAMESTOWN BROTHERS have a new video out featuring a song from the bands 2020 release ‘Rebels Rogues and Regrets’. They keep it slow and moving but always interesting.

Rings Of Power was dreadful and I never even finished watching all the episodes. The message to the writers is you don’t mess with perfection. Here’s Italian band PATRICKS with the series theme tune.

THE CLOVES AND THE TOBACCO from Indonesia are like music to the ear! If anyone had of told me a few years back that some of the best Celtic-Punk would be made in Indonesia then I think I would have laughed but it is true and any serious fan of the genre needs to investigate more. Try typing Indonesia into the search bar on this site!

This has just been uploaded onto You Tube and though its from 2015 it’s still worth a look and it made my day on seeing it. The kids of Oak Park School performing ‘Shippin’ Up To Boston’.

Thought I’d add this here. If you feel the need to drunkenly wander the streets of London (or anywhere) committing criminal damage then you can get a bunch of stickers at the address below.

THE CARDINAL SINS – Hate The Sin, Love The Sinner

LORETTA PROBLEM – Green And Gray

SINFUL MAGGIE – Psycho & Sycophants

THE WATERBOYS – A Rock in the Weary Land

MENEGUINNESS – Irish Caravan

THE SMITH STREET BAND – Life After Football

Remember we can’t review it if we don’t hear it!

We’ve been doing this now for nearly 10 years and in that time we have covered 100’s of bands and musicians but still plenty of bands have passed us by. We can’t see everything after all so this column is to remind us of bands that never made these pages at the time but deserve another mention. These hopefully come with a free download like today so you can help yourself to some free music. Today’s band is unusual for this feature in that they are one that many of you will already know of, THE TOSSERS. Truly one of the best Celtic-Punk bands around and a band that is worthy of being called inheritors of the sound of The Pogues. Long Dim Road was the bands debut album and what a f’ing start to their career. If you haven’t heard it don’t bother listening to it first just skip straight to downloading and save time!

Cú ULAID (hound of ulster, translated from irish) is the solo project of Donegal based Kev Gall, bass player for The Pox Men, who have featured here several times, and Dogmandü. A Tale Or Two is the follow up to his elf titled debut of dark original Irish Folk.

Canadian Irish Celtic-Punk’s PADDY WAGGIN recently released their new single starring Finny McConnell from THE MAHONES on vocals ‘Life On The Booze’ on Bandcamp for just $1.

I’ll be seeing JOLLY ROGER for the first time in a couple of days at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston if you fancy it? Here’s their latest single ‘Sea Maiden’ featuring the voice of Siren Songbird. It’s a ‘name your price’ download as are all of their tracks at the same link.

ANGRY ZETA AND THE HILLBULLYS are not just a great name but also a great band. Here’s their new album of Country-Punk from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Five headed folk punk band FOXES FAUX from Keighley in West Yorkshire have a new 7″ single out available on vinyl only though you can listen to half of it below.

Folk-Punk supergroup formed with the help, support and musical talents of Matt Johnson, Maty Tustian, Jess Silk, Brian Stone, Ewan P Stevens, Sam Tucker, Sid River, Karen Stone, Chloe Glover under the banner FESTIVAL FRIENDS to record ‘Forever 17’ in loving tribute to Matty would have been 18 on 22nd October. He passed away on 5th February 2021 after battling medulloblastoma a form of brain cancer. The cost of downloading the song is £1 and all proceeds go directly to Team Verrico.

The vinyl for the new PRONGHORN album is out now. Check out our review for the ‘Kings Of Cow-Punk’ fantastic album Welcome To Pronghorn County.

THE DUBLIN LEGENDS play Nells on December 8 and 9. Both THE SCRATCH and THE MARY WALLOPERS play Camden on the same day at the same time 100 yards away from each other so if you’re stuck check out our preview, One Night In Camden,  to help you make your mind up which way to jump on the day itself! The following day medieval London Celts PERKELT play the Jamboree in Kings Cross. January is going to be a fantastic month for London Celtic Punks with a whole host of gigs coming up starting with THE CLOVERHEARTS at The Black Heart in Camden on the 7th,  DROPKICK MURPHYS announced THE RUMJACKS, PENNYWISE and JESSE AHEARNE as support for their Euro tour starting in Jan and hitting Wembley Arena on the 21st and then a week later is THE REAL McKENZIES at the New Cross Inn on the 28th. Further ahead DAMIEN DEMPSEY and THE POGUE TRADERS are confirmed for St. Patrick’s week. Anyone remember THE DEVIL MAKES THREE who supported the Dropkick Murphys here a few years back are touring the UK in May and hit London on the 23rd and finally THE REAL McKENZIES are confirmed for Punk fest rebellion in August in Blackpool.

A new music events organisation has been set up in London. EMERALD EVENTS – LONDON

“Over the past 10 – 15 years London has been blessed with many Irish rebel bands and singers coming across and even some London musicians but recently have we seen a decline in London. There’s where we’ve stepped in to ensure Irish rebel music is safe in London for years to come. Emerald Events – London is a group of friends that want to bring these events back to what they were in the days of the Hoops Bar Oval and Quex Road Kilburn. Our Sole aim is to bring different Rebel/ballad/traditional irish music back to London as it previously once was! We have already been in contact with certain musicians and are looking forward to 2023.  Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – 

London Celtic Punks presents another night of rip roaring Celtic-Punk and Irish-Folk 

Coming down from Worcester to play London for the first ever time THE WHIPJACKS. Pounding drums, driving bass and screeching guitar flit hand in hand with melodic mandolin, accordion, partial nudity and attitude filled lyrics.
https://thewhipjacks.bandcamp.com/

Supported by London-Irish Celtic-Punk band CROCK OF BONES. Hot Irish jigs, reels, foot stompers and lyrical folk out of north London whose backgrounds stretch back to 90s Celtic-Punk, gypsy jazz, dark folk and rock. Using fiddle, accordion, banjo, guitar and double bass, their set contains originals/standards/reels and jigs, from full-pelt foot-stompers like Hot Asphalt to sing-along ballads like the original Ferry.
https://www.facebook.com/Crock-of-Bones-327151471252980/

more to be confirmed…

The night will be compered by London Celtic Punk Poet and rabble raiser BENNY RABBLE who will perform between acts with his incendiary working class 2nd generation poems.
https://www.facebook.com/bennyrabble

The gig is FREE ENTRY so bring cash for beer and to buy some band merchandise and kicks off at 7-30pm sharp. THE BIRD’S NEST – One of the last standing live venues in SE London and one of the best. Located at 32 Deptford Church Street, Lewisham, London SE8 4RZ. close to New Cross and New Cross Gate tube stations so easily accessible from across London.
http://www.thebirdsnestpub.co.uk/

If you like what we do then you can support us by checking out our online store. The Harp’n’Bones design is back in all sizes and on black or white shirts. Also we have new polo shirts, in all sizes, and some nifty woolly hats as well as the Green’n’White ‘Skully Cap’ ringer shirts. Click the link below for the full range of all our other tatt. Shirts, badges, stickers, flags, CD’s and fridge magnets all the discerning Celtic-Punk fan could ever need! Help keep Punk Celtic! https://the30492shop.fwscart.com/

Facebook is rubbish and I can’t wait to see it fold. It has a stranglehold on all forms of expression that is not good and it’s no surprise to see people leaving in droves. Don’t despair though if you are one of them as you can keep up with London Celtic Punks posts via group on the phone app Telegram. Similar to What’s App but completely free from outside interference. Join us on Telegram, don’t miss a single post and even receive the odd exclusive and special offer! https://t.me/londoncelticpunks/

The response to the new London Celtic Punks badge has been amazing. Not surprising really as they are just about the nicest bit of merchandise in Celtic-Punk if you ask me! Comes with butterfly clip and made in Ireland (Guaranteed Irish!) available for just £5 – UK and £7 – EU post-paid and we’ll throw in a few stickers and a button badge too. For further overseas contact us and we’ll work it out. Send to Paypal (friends & family) to londoncelticpunks@hotmail.co.uk

Even though we hate it Facebook does supply the (very) occasional ray of sunshine so a shout out to some good friends of ours over on Facebook. The Dropkick Murphys- Fan Page and the Celtic Punk,  Folk And Rock Fans are two of the best music forums on FB let alone Celtic-Punk. Ran By Fans For Fans just like you and me. Like and join in the fun!

Some rather good news sneaked by us without anyone hardly noticing. The London Celtic Punks Facebook page passed the 6000 mark after being stuck on 5900 for what seemed like ages. Join us there for up to date news on Celtic-Punk scene. You know what they say- little things please little people!

As usual no Odds’n’Sods feature for next month as we will be concentrating on our end of year polls. Watch out for them. Continue to send in your news though.

Finally a message to bands. Its Christmas soon (yes I know!) and if you are planning on doing a Christmas release then be sure to get the details to us as soon as possible. Last year we could hardly keep up so give us a chance folks!

Finally finally time for an all time classic…  Happy Christmas Celtic-Punkers. x

A reminder too that we need your news so anything you would like to share with the rest of the Celtic-Punk scene send it onto us.

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