Well into Spring now and hopefully a decent Summer awaiting us around the corner but regular as the rain here’s a bumper May edition of Odds ‘n’Sods where we collect all the various new music, new videos, live / gig news and new news coming out of the Celtic-Punk scene. It’s all here from bands big and small and those just starting out!
London’s favourites and #1 Pogues tribute THE POGUE TRADERS open their show on St. Patrick’s day with a stonewall classic. This shower are the best in the business so watch out for when they are performing.
CAPTAIN TOM & THE HOOLIGANS are becoming regular fixtures on these pages and they have a new album out soon so will be appearing again soon! Dyngus Daze is an original song about the Polish American Holiday Dyngus Day based off the original Polish Easter Monday celebration of Smigus Dyngus!
Here they are again performing live with Nick from THE DREADNOUGHTS on their recent US tour.
The latest album from the interestingly names ASS POCKET WHISKEY FELLAS. Recorded live in August 2023 at the Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach, California. Eight tracks a mix of originals and a couple of covers.
Despite being one of the busiest and prolific bands in the scene no rest for the wicked as THE O’REILLYS AND THE PADDYHATS continue to churn out quality top draw Celtic-Punk.
Italian band ZECKYBOYS are a not really a new band having been together since 2019 but they are making waves in the Celtic-Punk scene and here they are performing a acoustic set of trad Irish Folk in Bari on St. Patrick’s Day.
Haven’t seen Yorkshire’s BLACKBEARD’S TEA PARTY for what seems like ages and they are one of my favourite bands. Here’s their latest video of them playing in York last December.
Big fans also of Dutch band BUNCH OF BASTARDS who are anything but and are a really nice bunch of guys. Plenty going on in their world and here’s their latest video.
Big fan of the Piratey-Punx THE DREAD CREW OF ODDWOOD new album Rust & Glory. Well worth checking out and here they are playing live in Ottawa last month.
Not had a lot from New Zealand over the years and just the other week someone commented that NZ has nothing Celtic-Punk going on. Well Celtic inspired Folk-Punkers THE NORWESTERS are from there!
Not sure quite what to make of Poppy-Folky-Country band THE BUFFALO SKINNERS on first listen but their album is a real grower and then I found out they were from Yorkshire so all is well with them!
French band LEMONFLY performing an absolutely stunning version of ‘Rattlin Bog’ during a acoustic live session at Flannery’s, one of the most beautiful Irish pubs in Dijon and in France.
Lots of similarities between Celtic-Punk and Oi! with an emphasis on working class pride, beer drinking and having a good time so here’s the new song from London’s COCK SPARRER. A long time ago someone assured me a couple of them were Irish descent that’s good enough for me! Lets hope we don’t go the way of the skinheads and be infiltrated by the dreaded rich kids though!
CLOVERS REVENGE – Among Your Friends (review coming any day)
PHIL ODGERS & JOHN KETTLE – Far Rockaway – The Songs Of Phil Ochs
CHRIS O’LEARY – The Hard Line
KORPIKLAANI – Rankarumpu
THE BUFFALO SKINNERS – Picking Up What You’re Putting Down
CLAN ALDO PINELLI – Nordiska Vatten
Remember we can’t review it if we don’t hear it!
Just a quick mention for Bandcamp Friday (midnight to midnight Pacific time) when Bandcamp take no fees from other peoples hard work. So if you are going to buy something then wait till then and keep the money out of vultures hands. Next one is Friday 3rd May midnight to midnight Pacific time. Track when they are via isitbandcampfriday.com
Hungarians JOLLY JACKERS continue to pump out absolutely brilliant Celtic-Folk-Punk. New track ‘Horizon’ is an encouraging song for those who work hard, and don’t give up even if the situation looks like a hopeless lost cause.
PHIL ‘SWILL’ ODGERS from Celtic-Folk-Punk legends THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG has a new album out with JOHN KETTLE called Far Rockaway – The Songs of Phil Ochs. 11 songs from the American enigma. This is pre-release link.
WEYBOURNE CHESTER BINGLEY is a bit of a mouthful for a solo artist but we’ve followed yer man for quite the while and his last album is titled simply The Irish Pub Album which is twelve songs of distinctive covers of various Irish Folk and Rock covers recorded in various locations around Ireland with Richard Stretton on banjo and backing vocals.
Not heard from Derry born Manchester based Irish Hip-Hop artist DANNY DIATRIBE for a while so delighted to get this in me inbox.
A couple of years old now but a great album of Celtic-Oi! from Brittany band GAZ MOUTARDE. the album is an homage to the fallen of the first world war regardless of nationality or side.
Their are plenty links between Argentina and the Celtic nations and quite a few bands too. One of the best Celtic bands there we have featured before MAC MANUS from Buenos Aires. We reviewed their most recent release but since then they have put their second album In Manusland up on Bandcamp. A beautiful Celtic-Rock and traditional Irish mix containing trad tunes and the bands own compositions.
We’ve been doing this now for well over a decade 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. Todays band hails from Baton Rouge, Luisiana in the good ‘ol USA. NO FUEGO describe themselves ‘Punk rock with bagpipes’ and todays free download is a sampler with songs taken from No Fuego’s first two studio albums. They went on to record another album Concrete & Country before splitting up.
LUKA BLOOM is at Nels on May 3rd. BLACKSTAIRS REBEL play Dicey Reilly’s, 2A Ruislip Road, Greenford UB6 9QN on Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th. JESSE AHERN is in the UK for a 5 date tour ending at The Black Heart in Camden on May 5th before moving onto Europe. Saturday 11th May sees NEW MODEL ARMY at the Roundhouse in Camden supported by Neds Atomic Dustbin and same night the wonderful DEREK WARFIELD AND THE YOUNG WOLFE TONES at Whelans in Uxbridge.. FEROCIOUS DOG kick off their big UK tour supporting the release of new album Kleptocracy at the 100 Club in the west end on May 17th with Italian Celtic-Punkers THE CLOVERHEARTS supporting on a few dates too. Sadly as is the way with London the 17th is also THE REVEREND PEYTON’S BIG BAND at The Boston Dome. LANKUM at the Hackney Empire on Saturday 18 May. DERVISH are at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith May 17-18. TUMBLING PADDIES are at the Electric Ballroom in Camden on May 25 the same night as THE RED HOT CHILLI PIPERS at Cadogan Hall. Good friend of the site DYLAN WALSHE arrives in London from Nashville to play Leytonstone Social Club on May 29 with OTIS GIBBS. MERRY HELL have a matinee show at The Half Moon in Putney on Sunday 2nd June at 2pm. The biggest gig here has to be THE WOLFE TONES playing Finsbury Park on Friday 5th July with support from THE UNDERTONES and THE SCRATCH amongst several others. Tickets are £50 and as advertised as their last ever London gig is expected to be one hell of a hooley! Scandinavian Celtic-Folker and theatrical pirates YE BANISHED PRIVATEERS play Camden at The Black Heart on 23rd July. Scots atmospheric Black Metal band SAOR at Camden Underworld on Saturday 27 July then THE DREADNOUGHTS are over for the Summer and play Camden Underworld as well on July 31, Outcider festival on August 1 and Rebellion in Blackpool on August 4. OUTCIDER FESTIVAL is on from the 1st – 4th Augusat and features a load of bands that I’m sure readers would like – https://www.fuelledbycider.com/outcider. FLOGGING MOLLY just announced dates back on the auld sod for July/August and a couple this side of the Irish Sea as well as the DROPKICK MURPHYS at festivals. Check back for news on any headline dates. Austrian Folk-Metal band VISIONS OF ATLANTIS are back again at Camden Underworld on Friday 4th October and hows this for a gig THE POGUE TRADERS and THE LAGAN together at the New Cross Inn on Tuesday 15 October! HEADSTICKS play a rare London headline gig at The Grace on November 1. Watch out for a extra special London Celtic Punks gig on Saturday 9 November with international guest! Details to come! SWILL ODGERS from THE MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG plays a Christmas show at The Water Rats in Kings Cross on December 21 and i’d bet my shirt will sell out miles in advance.
We just watched the amazing OLD TIME SAILORS in Guildford and they were incredible. A 17-piece band playing Irish Folk and sea-shanties that is half way theatre and half way the best musical show you’ll see all year. Check their Fan-Page on Facebook for gigs near you but they land ashore at the Islington Academy on Saturday 7th September.
London GAA play 2 games this month at home at McGovern Park, West End Road, Ruislip HA4 6QX: In the Christy Ring Cup v Kildare at Hurling on Saturday May 18th and in the Tailteann Cup v Down at Gaelic Football the weekend of May 18-19.
Everything we raise from our merch goes straight back into the Celtic-Punk scene so if you like what we do and want to support us have a look at our online store. We have some brand new iron-on patches just in and a restock of badges and stickers. The LCP favourite Harp’n’Bones tee is available in all sizes on black or white shirts. We have the Polo shirts back in and the ‘Skully Cap’ ringer shirts in black or green. With Summer looming we were glad to be rid of all the last of the woolly hats. Click the link below for the full range of all our tatt. Shirts, hoodies, badges, stickers, flags, CD’s and fridge magnets – all the discerning Celtic-Punk fan could ever need or want! Help keep Punk Celtic! https://the30492shop.fwscart.com/
Facebook is slowly dying and we wish it would hurry up! In it’s place I look forward to the return of flyers and fanzines! If you are one of those who has left keep in touch with us via the London Celtic Punks app on Telegram. Don’t miss a single post and even receive the odd exclusive and special offer! https://t.me/londoncelticpunks/
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!
Be sure to have a look an listen to MacSlon’s Irish Pub Radio for all the best in Celtic-Punk, Irish Folk and Rock. They also have just about the biggest selection of shirts and hoodies and all sorts of other gear for sale over at the https://www.macslons.com shop.
Now I’d be the first to say I’m not up with technology so MacSlons new foray into AI has left me a bit bemused but the animations and artwork they’ve produced are pretty amazing and they also just released this! As Nico said
“you can think what you want about artificial intelligence. Opinions on this vary greatly. We fully understand those who demonize this new technology. Nevertheless, we have a lot of fun playing around and experimenting with these new possibilities. If we’ve only focused on graphics for our shirts so far, here’s a new step. The lyrics to this song were written entirely by us. Singing and music are AI generated. We are more than speechless about this result.”
We always like to end with something a bit different about the time of year so here’s something that’s a bit different but one I love. With the guys about to play their last ever London gig in July here’s THE WOLFE TONES and the ‘First Of May’.
All we need to do now is for you to help fill this page with news and remember if you are new to the London Celtic Punks blog it is easy to subscribe / follow and never miss a post. Also if anyone is interested in helping out on the reviews front then let us know via the Contact Us page.
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