LONDON CELTIC PUNKS WEB-ZINE

  • ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION – 50 SONGS & 3 HOURS!

    St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner so celebrate everything Irish, from reverent to rowdy, on this free download “curated by Amazon’s Music Experts” or fair likely picked by AI. 50 songs – 3 hours of gaelic classics from sons of Erin like Bing Crosby and Macklemore to friends of Ireland like The Rolling…

  • 4″ BE 2″ – THE GREAT LOST LINK IN IRISH MUSIC

    The 4 Be 2’s were a 2nd generation Irish Post-Punk formed in North London in 1979 and who disbanded in 1981. They are the great lost link in the development of Irish music – the very first band to ever raise an English born but defiantly Irish voice. The 4″ Be 2″s was Punk band…

  • NEW SINGLE: 25 YEARS OF THE REBEL HEARTS Lullaby Of London

    Who better than to pay tribute to one of Tipperary’s most famous sons than Tipp’s best Folk band The Rebel Hearts.  “Their hearts in Tipperary wherever they go” Fitting in the week that Tipperary were over to play London at Gaelic Football in west London (and kinda lucky to escape with a point!) that we…

  • 2023 ROUND-UP: CELTIC NATIONS – B.R.E.T.O.N.S. | ANTO MORRA | BLOOD OR WHISKEY | THE SCRATCH |

    Celtic-Punk was invented by the descendants of the Celtic nations while those at home were slow to realise how bloody good is. Eventually though they caught up and here’s a bunch of releases from across the Celtic nations that we missed first time round. Christmas is just around the corner and London Celtic Punks love…

  • INTRODUCING LONDON’S NEWEST IRISH FOLK BAND – THE POITINS

    As a community the London Irish just won’t lie down. We’re still here and still fighting you know!  We are always delighted to happen upon a new band on the London scene that we can call friends. It was only a couple of months ago that we came across The Poitin’s. I can’t remember which…

  • ANDREW RANKEN & THE MYSTERIOUS WHEELS RELEASE CHARITY SINGLE FOR ST. JOE’S HOSPICE, HACKNEY

    Today we send our love to Andrew Ranken of The Pogues. He’s not been well for some time but he and his band The Mysterious Wheels have recorded a song to aid and raise funds for the wonderful St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney. Just out is the new single ‘Take Me Down To St Joe’s’…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: MAN THE LIFEBOATS – Soul Of Albion (2022)

    Anto Morra was so taken away by Londoners Man The Lifeboats album Soul Of Albion that he had to get his words into print. Raucous, upbeat Folk with big choruses that tell stories with straight– up lyrics, pounding bass lines, lilting mandolin and fiddle melodies and stomping beats. It may be a bit late in the…

  • CELTIC-PUNK Q AND A : THE LONDON IRISH FOLK-PUNKER ANTO MORRA

    With a new album due out on Saturday and a London Celtic Punks gig with American band Brave The Sea on Friday there’s no better time to get our auld mate Anto to fill out the Celtic-Punk Q And A. Filled to the brim with Anto-isms get along to The Birds Nest on Friday and…

  • BRYAN McPHERSON. LIVE IN LONDON – MASTERLINK SESSIONS

    Now based in Montana the Boston born singer-songwriter Bryan McPherson recently travelled over to these shores to play a couple of shows around London and visit the esteemed Masterlink Sessions studio to record 100% live with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra. Born and raised on the streets of Boston, Bryan made the gigantic leap to Los Angeles before…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE POGUES – The Stiff Records B-Sides 1984-1987 (2023)

    Hey it’s a new Pogues album.Well not quite but almost!! A collection of Pogues non-album B-sides from the bands tenure on the famed Stiff Records label including greats like ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’ and ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’, as well as lesser know greats like ‘Shanne Bradley’ (B-side to ‘Fairytale Of New York’),…

  • THE POGUESTRA LATEST RELEASE ‘London You’re A Lady’

    The PoguestrA are back for the first time since the Summer with a song close to the hearts of the London Irish community especially. ‘London You’re A Lady’ one of the highlights of The Pogues fourth studio album Peace And Love.  The PoguestrA are a group of musicians united by a love of The Pogues playing…

  • INTERVIEW WITH POGUE | WALKER ROADER JAMES FEARNLEY

    After a couple of interviews with fellow Walker Roaders Ted Hutt and Marc Orrell, our man in NYC, Ray Ball, finally gets round to the main inspiration for the band, James Fearnley. There at the very beginning, on the  4th October 1982 in Kings Cross – James is best known from his days in The…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: PHIL ‘SWILL’ ODGERS, PAUL SIMMONDS, BOBBY VALENTINO – Questions, Answers & Songs (2023)

    Phil ‘Swill’ Odgers, Paul Simmonds and Bobby Valentino got together last Summer for a one off show at London’s legendary Water Rats music venue in Kings Cross. Recorded for posterity it was something a little different! Remember last Summer? I do. I started a new job in April so for the first time in many…

  • CELTIC-PUNK LIVE AND LOUD IN DEPTFORD

    The Lagan / Dirty Artichokes / Anto Morra at The Bird’s Nest, Deptford, London Thursday 4th August 2022 It had been a while since we put on any bands and had even debated whether or not to keep doing so but presented with the opportunity to put on Italian band Dirty Artichokes we just couldn’t…

  • THE POGUES LIVE IN LYON 1986 THIRTY-SIX YEARS AGO TODAY!

    FREE DOWNLOAD I’m not a massive fan of live recordings but really enjoyed this one of a Pogues concert recorded for Radio-Bellevue in Lyon, France. I then realised the 36th anniversary was only days away so the perfect time to share this free download with you. I tried to dig up some information for you and there…

  • Shane and Ronnie

    THE DUNES

    Ronnie Drew and Shane MacGowan teamed up in the ’90s. The result was something powerful and terribly sad.

  • A CELTIC PUNK LOVE AFFAIR

    Ever wanted to read a short story or novel about Celtic punk? What we have here will be right up yer alley.

  • REMEMBERING MATT REN EX OF THE BABES 1978 – 2021

    Matthew Raymond Renicks 16th April 1978 – 17th August 2021 What a year 2021 has been. Already several well known figures from the Celtic-Punk scene have sadly passed long before their time and to that number we can now add Matt from the London band The Babes. We are grateful here to his bandmate Mao…

  • NEW CHRISTMASSY CELTIC-PUNK SONGS FROM IRELAND, CHINA, GERMANY, CANADA, LONDON AND MEXICO

    Well that’s it. Christmas is over and done with and hopefully you all had a festively good time despite everything.  BUT if you are still in need of some good cheer though then wait no more as we here’s a selection of six brand new 2020 Christmas-ish Celtic-Punk songs for you to delight over. Craic…

  • ‘RETURN TO CAMDEN’  BY TERENCE O’FLAHERTY

    Beautiful song from London based Irish singer/songwriter Terence O’Flaherty name checking memories of a bygone era in the north of London. This original recorded version is due to be released on Terence’s upcoming album Backtracks with the Claire Egan, Eoin O’Neill and John Kelly accompanying. Terence is a traditional Irish singer and songwriter from Ennistimon,…

  • LET THE MUSIC KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH – PART THREE

    Welcome to the final installment of Let The Music Keep Your Spirits high. Over the last three Sundays Andy Nolan of the most popular and influential Irish band in England over the last 20 years – the Bible Code Sundays – has shared with us the history and meaning behind some of his songs. A…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE POGUES – ‘BBC SESSIONS 1984 – 1986 (2020)

    The first ‘new’ release from The Pogues for quite a while compiles all their various BBC Sessions between April 1984 and July 1985. This CD/ digital release includes two sessions not included on the recent vinyl version of this album.  The Pogues – BBC Sessions is the definitive complete collection that The Pogues recorded for…

  • LET THE MUSIC KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH – PART TWO

    Our short series on the songs of Andy Nolan continues today with another five of Andy’s masterpieces. As a past member of Shane MacGowan And The Popes and Spider Stacy’s Vendettas he has a great musical legacy but it’s as accordion player and songwriter for London Irish musical tour-de-force The Bible Code Sundays that Andy’s…

  • LET THE MUSIC KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH – PART ONE

    Andy Nolan is best known on these pages as the accordion player and songwriter for the London Irish musical tour-de-force The Bible Code Sundays and as an ex-member of Shane MacGowan And The Popes and Spider Stacy’s Vendettas but there’s a lot more to him than just being an expert accordionist. Andy is also a…

  • POGUE LAUREATE: POGUETRY – THE LYRICS OF SHANE MacGOWAN 

    It’s thirty-eight years to the day that The Pogues, then known as Pogue Mahone first trod the boards at their debut gig at The Pindar of Wakefield in Kings Cross, London.  At their height, The Pogues were as vivid an embodiment of the Irish of London as you’re ever likely to see. Their songs bled…

  • NEW SINGLE FROM GLENN HODGE BANNED ‘As It Is’

    Glenn Hodge Banned is an alternative, contemporary folk singer. An independent artist who has been bastardising nice music for some time now! London based Kent born singer-songwriter Glenn Hodge has been recording music since 2014 but got his big break by penning the lively festive Folk song ‘Santa’s Coming Round’ for the homeless charity The Big…

  • ALBUM REVIEW- QUINTESSENTIAL QUARANTUNES (2020)

    Six bands, three from Ireland and three London based. No longer able to play their trade due to government lockdowns either side of the Irish Sea have been virtually brought together by one man – Phil Parsons and one pub – Frostys Bar, Kenton to create a lockdown album like no other. With a mixture of…

  • THE POGUES LIVE IN LONDON ST. PATRICK’S DAY 1988

    St. Patrick’s Day 2020 was cancelled so if you’re stuck indoors like me looking for something to do enjoy an hour or so of what made The Pogues so memorable and have a free download too and carry them around with you from room to room!!  The Pogues were just an incredible band. In fact…

  • ANTO MORRA’S NEW ALBUM IN HIS OWN WORDS

    Songwriter, performer and multi media artist that believes ‘Life is for laughing and fighting injustice’. Traditional folk songs and punk rock of his formative London years, along with his Irish roots and Norfolk home are the inspiration behind his work. by ANTO MORRA Twenty is a compilation of 20 songs taken from 7 CD releases.…

  • LONDON CELTIC PUNKS PRESENTS THE BEST OF 2019!

    Well here we go again. It only seems like five minutes since I was compiling all the votes into last years Best Of that saw The Rumjacks romping home with Album Of The Year. This year has been a bit quieter on the Celtic-Punk front but as last year was so busy that is perhaps…

  • IRISH SOUL STEW- THE POGUES

    One man’s thoughts on what the Pogues  Shane MacGowan were and are. The original Celtic-Punk band, formally known as Pogue Mahone (from the Irish Gaelic ‘póg mo thóin’ meaning ‘kiss my arse’) who later became known as The Pogues. Formed in 1982 their inspired use of traditional Irish instruments and poetic, often politically tinged lyrics…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: CROCK OF BONES- ‘Celtic Crossbones’ (2019)

    Alt Folk, Irish, Trad, Celtic. Celtic Crossbones the debut album release from Crock Of Bones the hottest new band on the London Irish Folk and Trad circuit.  Hot on the heels of their debut EP, Nasty, Brutal And Short, comes the debut album release from Crock Of Bones. Formed this year out of various members…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE FILTHY SPECTACULA- ‘The Howl Of The Underclasses’ (2019)

    Twisted gypsy punk, revved up pirate shanties, dark folk, ska, punk, dark cabaret, Southern gothic, a bit of steampunk, a bit of darkness, a bit of coarse music hall banter and a lot of drunkenness. The second full-length album from The Filthy Spectacula with thirteen more songs of death, debauchery and drinking that are sure…

  • THE CELTIC PUNKCAST PRESENTS THE LONDON CELTIC PUNKS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

    Aw shucks them lovely people over at The Celtic Punkcast have gone and done a special edition of the show featuring ten of our favourite songs handpicked by our resident DJ Greenford Bhoy. All bands that we have grown up and grown with and very close to our hearts. Thanks to them all and here’s…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE IGNORANT’S SLICE OF LIFE- ‘Don’t Turn Away’ (2019)

    ‘Anarcho punk legend’ Steve Ignorant returns with his new acoustic project Slice of Life follow their 2014 debut ‘Love And A Lamp-Post’ with a new collection of eleven songs titled ‘Don’t Turn Away’. Accompanied by Carol Hodge, Pete Wilson and Pete Rawlinson as the Slice Of Life our man Anto Morra discovers Don’t Turn Away…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE DISINCLINED- ‘Sing’ (2019)

    The debut album from South-West Londoners The Disinclined, ageing purveyors of folky, punky, gypsy tales. The debut album from The Disinclined comes hot on the heels of their debut single, Sing And Create, which we gave the thumbs up to last December on these pages. Both the tracks from then are re-recorded here and if…

  • EP REVIEW: CROCK OF BONES- ‘Nasty, Brutal And Short’ (2019)

    Alt Folk, Irish, Trad, Celtic. The debut release from Crock Of Bones the newest band on the London Irish Folk and Trad circuit.  I first met the Brothers Byrne oh maybe twenty odd years ago. Having not long moved to London from the northern wastelands I was surrounded by Irish at home but the only…

  • LONDON CELTIC PUNKS PRESENTS THE BEST OF 2018!

    Well it seems like only yesterday that I was sitting in Mannions in north London totting up the votes for the Best Album Of 2017 over a couple of pints and so here we are again. Everyone loves to give out there opinions and we are no different so for what it’s worth, here’s who…

  • EP REVIEW: THE LAGAN- ‘Let’s Do It Again’ (2018)

    Sneaked in just before the end of last year was this new EP from local beer-soaked Celtic folk-punk favourites The Lagan and with the Best Of lists due next week no way could we miss out on reviewing it so off went Marv to chat to Brendan and find out what’s what.   Just after Christmas the shiny…

  • 2018 REVIEW ROUND-UP’S. PART TWO: EUROPE- SIGELPA, EAST TOWN PIRATES, LOCKS, IRISH STEW OF SINDIDUN,

    Here is Part 2 of our 2018 Round Up’s where we catch up with some of the releases that we missed first time round. Here are four bands and a whole load of music to take in all at once so make yourself a cuppa and relax. Their is something here that anyone can enjoy I’m…

  • EP REVIEW: THE CRAICHEADS- ‘Greetings From Another Land’ (2018)

    One of the biggest pullers on the London Irish scene Celtic-folkers The Craicheads are back with an 4-track EP the follow up to their debut album and a taster for their new studio album due next year! There are two Irish communities living in London. The Irish and the London-Irish. The Craicheads are London-Irish through and…

  • SEVEN DRUNKEN NIGHTS! FLOGGING MOLLY NATIONWIDE TOUR STARTS A WEEK TODAY!

    We have plenty of Celtic-Punk bands in England. We even have plenty of really good ones too BUT there’s only two bands that have left our wonderful scene and entered the mainstream. Those bands are, of course, the Dropkick Murphys, who will be crossing the ‘Broad Atlantic’ to us early next year, and LA’s Flogging…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: THE DISINCLINED- ‘Sing And Create’ (2018)

    The Disinclined are from south west London but sometimes they wish they were elsewhere. The debut release from a band well known to me and also from my neck of the woods as well in South-West London. They may not be your archetypal Celtic-Punk or Folk-Punk band hat much I can admit but as I…

  • EP REVIEW: JAMES McGRATH- ‘Live At The Shed’ (2018)

    What a fortnight for acclaimed Tipp born singer-songwriter James McGrath with both a new must-hear EP out this week and a must-see gig in London soon too! My family come from Tipperary (shout out to Ballylooby and Clogheen Wilkinson’s) so at this time of year I would normally be hurting after our annual defeat to…

  • EP REVIEW: MAN THE LIFEBOATS- ‘Man The Lifeboats EP'(2018)

    London based five piece Man the Lifeboats play raucous, upbeat folk music. Their debut EP is four songs of full-throttle, upbeat contemporary folk music to drink, dance and sing along to… Now before i start have to admit that I never really got the Skinny Lister thing. While all around me people and friends were renting and…

  • LIVE REVIEW: TC COSTELLO/ ANTO MORRA/ BRENDAN O’PREY AT THE GUNNERS 17th MAY 2018

    A very nice review by the talented Anto Morra of the recent London Celtic Punks gig held in north London that saw the start of TC Costello’s European tour. Accompanied by Anto and Brendan O’Prey (literally at times!) the night saw Irish artists from three different countries perform and they will all, I am sure,…

  • EP REVIEW: STEVE WHITE- ‘Fake News From Nowhere’ (2018)

    Local folk-punk hero Steve White is back but without The Protest Family this time to cement his reputation as one of East London’s finest sweary guitar playing lefties! This EP had almost slipped my memory when I bumped into Steve in the Leyton Orient Supporters Club bar. Trust me you’d need a drink after watching…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: CLAN OF CELTS- ‘Beggars, Celts And Madmen’ (2018)

    A new(ish!) London band fusing together all their musical experiences and influences ranging from Rock, Metal, Country, Punk and of course traditional Irish. They have created a unique style of original Celtic-Rock and an unmistakable sound that is brought to you with Celtic pride, passion, commitment and respect for our traditional roots. Clan Of Celts…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: ANTO MORRA- ‘From The Vaults’ (2017)

    London Irish Folk Punk Somewhere between the Pogues and Ian Dury with perhaps a dash of Madness. He’s back. Guess whose back? Aye it’s the all round Mr. Nice Guy Anto Morra to sort the English folk scene right out! Even more prolific than Matilda’s Scoundrels Anto presents his new album that came out at the…

  • THE UNHOLY TRINITY- SHANE MacGOWAN, MARK E. SMITH AND NICK CAVE

    We were saddened to hear about the death of Mark E.Smith grumpy front man of the influential Manchester post-punk band The Fall. So seems an apt time to remember the time, back in February 1989, that the British music paper the NME sent two of its journalists, James Brown and Sean O’Hagan, to the boozer with three of…

  • LONDON CELTIC PUNKS PRESENTS THE BEST OF 2017!

    Yes I know it only seems like five minutes since the last one but it’s that time of year again when we give you, for what it’s worth, our opinion on who made the best music in the celtic-punk scene over 2017. It’s been another outstanding year for the music that we all love and some…

  • 2017 REVIEW ROUND-UP’S PART THREE: THE CELTIC NATIONS- BIBLE CODE SUNDAYS, THE DECLINE!, BRUTUS’ DAUGHTERS, REAL McKENZIES, VINCE CAYO, THE BOTTLERS

    So welcome to 2018 and the first post of the year and the last of our round-ups from 2017. We simply could not keep up with the volume of releases we keep receiving so rather than completely neglect them here’s some much shorter reviews that will at least give you a taste of what they…

  • 2017 REVIEW ROUND-UP’S PART TWO: EUROPE- CASSIDY’S BREWERY, GALLEY BEGGAR, MAD MAN’S CREW, YE BANISHED PRIVATEERS, THE BLACK CLOVER

    Every year that we have been doing this has got better and better for celtic-punk releases. As happy as we are that this is so it also means that we just simply cannot keep up with everything out there. We haven’t had the chance to review everything we received or heard so here is Part 2 of our…

  • EP REVIEW: FLATCAPS & FISTICUFFS- ‘Raspberry Cheesecake’ (2017)

    *FREE* download of the debut release of delicious country Folk-Punk from Flatcaps & Fisticuffs from the town of Berkhamsted! Ukulele, mandolin, guitar, cajon, trumpet and a fragrant hint of rap! You know when you have made it as a band when you find other bands being compared to you and so it is with Matilda’s Scoundrels…

  • TEN YEARS WAITING FOR FLATFOOT 56 AND NEARLY OVER!

    I can’t believe it but yes it’s been a decade since they first stepped foot on our shores and Chicago’s Flatfoot 56 are back! That gig inspired the setting up of the London Celtic Punks so we are as happy as Larry to be able to present their gigs in North and South London at…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: THE PUNKFOLKERS- ‘Angry Man/ The Blacksmith’ (2017)

    London Celtic Punks favourite and London Irish folk punker Anto Morra is back with his new project The Punkfolkers. This isn’t the folk-punk of The Levellers or The Pogues but the punk of the Pistols, The Stranglers and SLF as filtered through some real story telling and traditional folk. The Punkfolkers are a three piece…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE BABES- ‘Greetings From London’ (2017)

    The Babes are a trio of London celtic-punk misfits that play fast and punky Poguesy type music… and with just drums, bass and bagpipes! In a small scene such as ours over here in Blighty it’s always brilliant news to hear of another celtic-punk band joining the fold and we were over the moon earlier…

  • HOW THE IRISH BECAME THE POGUES

    by Jack Hamilton Last March I enjoyed the pleasure (and attendant hangover) of partaking in the annual ritual of alcoholic commerce that is St. Patrick’s Day in Boston.  Although I had grown up in the area, and in a decidedly Irish-American household at that, I had spent the past seven such holidays as a resident…

  • REMEMBERING WILLIAM WALLACE RALLY IN LONDON AUGUST 20th 2017

    “I have brought you to the ring, now dance the best you can!” Words shouted by William Wallace to the Scottish army at the Battle of Falkirk on the 22nd of July 1298 as the English cavalry began to charge. REMEMBER THE SCOTTISH PATRIOT AND MARTYR WILLIAM WALLACE EXECUTED AT SMITHFIELD IN LONDON AUGUST 1305…

  • EP REVIEW: FOLLOW THE CROWS- ‘West is East’ (2017)

    London based Celtic folk rock/Irish/bluegrass band with hard-driven vocals fused with guitar and mandolin mayhem, underpinned by riotous folk rhythms of rebellion, redemption and downright recklessness! Formed in August, 2012 Follow The Crows are the latest in a growing line of bands playing in the London Irish-folk scene that have embraced some of celtic-punk’s harder…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: JAMIE CLARKE’S PERFECT- ‘Hell Hath No Fury’ (2017)

    New album from German based ex-member of The Pogues Jamie Clarke’s Perfect. Pioneers and purveyors of Folkabilly Rock- rockabilly and punk mixed with a dash of Irish folk and a belly full of beer! The name Jamie Clarke will be known to many of you due to his membership of a certain band in the 1990’s.…

  • LIVE REVIEW: FEROCIOUS DOG AND NECK AT THE GARAGE, NORTH LONDON LAST NIGHT!

    We don’t hang about here and hot off the press here’s a review of last nights shenanigans. It all happened in the heart of Arsenal territory in North London but thankfully they weren’t at home and we had the Wetherspoons to ourselves pre-gig. Two of the greatest celtic-punk bands around combined for the perfect night and…

  • INTRODUCING THE BABES. A NEW LONDON CELTIC PUNK BAND!

    Tomorrow seems so far away, why don’t we live for today? When yesterday is all said and done, why don’t we just have some fun? (directed by Maciej Bąkowski & Lost Data Productions) Its always great to hear of another London celtic-punk band popping up and when they are as good as The Babes are…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE WHITE AND THE PROTEST FAMILY- ‘Protest For Dummies’ (2016)

    Protest For Dummies is an unashamedly political album that doesn’t hector or bully or lecture but will make you laugh, cry, tap your foot and sing along. Welcome one and all to the third studio album from one of London Celtic Punks favourite bands Steve White & The Protest Family. It’s been two years since the…

  • LIVE REVIEW: THE CUNDEEZ IN SOUTH LONDON SEPTEMBER 2016

    KEEPIN’ IT OARY DOWN AMONG THE SASSENACHS DAY TWO by Vincent Mahon Fresh from their triumphant London debut at the Gunners in Finsbury Park on Friday, Saturday finds the Cundeez saarf ov ver rivver at the Veg Bar in sunny Brixton as guests of the London Celtic Punks. The Veg Bar is a vegan restaurant…

  • “A CURSE UPON YOU OLIVER CROMWELL…”- PROTEST THE LONDON CROMWELL CELEBRATION

    Every year there is a celebration of the life and achievements of the tyrant Oliver Cromwell here in London. This year, the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, we will be taking part in a demonstration to say that Oliver Cromwell was a genocidal religious fanatic and butcher of the innocent. A vicious war criminal,…

  • INTERVIEW WITH COMRADE X

    Hitting home with the force of a police raid on a late night lock-in at the dodgiest South London boozer Comrade X emerges from the rubble of political failure, X Factor and wall to wall mediocrity to raise a pint of Guinness to the spirit of 1977! Over the last couple of years it has…

  • THE POGUES AND IRISH CULTURAL CONTINUITY

    BY PÁDRAIC GRANT Shane MacGowan’s awareness and adaptation of trends in the literary world, along with the narrative quality and structural experimentation of his work, should cement his status as both a musical and literary figure. The Pogues (formerly Pogue Mahone, Irish Gaelic for ‘kiss my arse’) were formed in 1982 by a group of…

  • LONDON MEMORIAL TO THE GREAT IRISH ‘FAMINE’ OF 1845- 1852

    On Sunday 22nd May there will be a memorial event in London to the Irish Famine which many refer to as a genocide! It will take place outside the main entrance of Congress House in Great Russell Street. Speakers invited will be on behalf of the Parvees (Irish Travellers) who owe their roots to this atrocity…

  • SINGLE REVIEW: MATILDA’S SCOUNDRELS- ‘Crowleys Curse’ (2016)

    Quality celtic folk punk from the smugglers cove of Hastings. One of the highlights of 2015 was the emergence of a couple of bands who have gone on to become both solid fixtures not only on the celtic-punk scene but also on the wider alternative/punk scene also. I am talking of course about the mighty Mick…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: TRIBUTE TO THE POGUES- Various Artists (2016)

    A huge compilation of songs written by the world’s #1 Celtic-Punk band as covered by today’s generation of modern celtic-punk bands from every single corner of the world! FREE DOWNLOAD! We were sent this brilliant album by our good mate Vladimir, who also did the fantastic artwork and also seems to do the artwork for…

  • THE POGUES ON MASTERMIND- THE ANSWERS!

    …so following on from the quiz we published on St Patrick’s Day here’s the answers. If you missed it and want to take it now click on the Mastermind chair below. John got 12 on the show so better than that and you deserve a pat on the back… 1. What was the name of…

  • THE POGUES ON MASTERMIND- THE QUESTIONS

    Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! “For each petal on the shamrock This brings a wish your way Good health, good luck, and happiness For today and every day” A couple of years ago John Abernethy competed on Mastermind (a English TV quiz show) and had The Pogues as his specialist subject. We know that that the…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: ANTO MORRA-’16’ (2016)

    London Irish Folk Punk Somewhere between the Pogues and Ian Dury with perhaps a dash of Madness. The ever prolific Anto Morra returns with this sixteen track album tribute to the 1916 Easter Rising. In the 100th Anniversary year of the Rising their have been many books and musical tributes paid to that heroic act…

  • CELTIC CELTIC-PUNK. BLACK FRIDAY LIVE IN CORNWALL FEBRUARY 13th 2016

    Traditional celtic punk for a real shanty knees up! Straight out of Kernow and heading our way to London real soon here’s a review of a recent Black Friday gig to wet your whistles for the real thing. A high energy Celtic folk band from St Germans in Cornwall. They play a fine mix of original songs,…

  • LONDON CELTIC PUNKS PRESENTS OUR BEST OF 2015!

    One of the best things about doing this here blog-zine is the end of year ‘Best Of’s’. This is our chance to reward, for what it’s worth, and recommend those releases that tickled our collective fancies over the last twelve months. Where as in 2013 the Best Of’s were dominated by local bands and releases…

  • LIVE REVIEW: THE POGUE TRADERS at The Water Rats 13th December 20015

    Reviewed by Heather Hoy It was on the 4th October 1982 that The Pogues played their first ever gig at The Pindar of Wakefield on London’s Gray’s Inn Road. Back then, they could never have imagined the impact their music would have on the world around them or how people’s lives would be changed as…

  • 2015 REVIEWS ROUND UP PART TWO- WILL TUN AND THE WASTERS, SKONTRA, LOUISE DISTRAS, HAPPY OL McWEASEL, THE CUNDEEZ, ANTO MORRA

    This year has been quite brilliant for celtic-punk releases. In fact it has been far the best year since we began doing this here thingy. Good news surely but it also sadly means we didn’t get a chance to review everything we received or heard. So after catching up with our North American cousins (here)…

  • BIBLE CODE SUNDAYS CHARITY SINGLE ‘Something Inside So Strong’

    Charity Single Released with Ginger Melodeon Experience Music Collective for The Lymphoma Association. FREE DOWNLOAD!! All we ask is that you make a donation, any amount you like! Tracie O’Sullivan is a friend, she is one of the lucky ones and is the reason why The Bible Code Sundays have recorded this song. This is her story…

  • PREPARE YOUR LIVERS FOR THE WORSE LONDON! COMING SOON…

    Sorry if you don’t live in London but if you do you lucky souls are in for a cracking weekend from December 11th to the 13th! FRIDAY 11th DECEMBER 2015 IRISH MUSIC FOR PALESTINE BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ‘VOICE OF GAZA’ We are proud to announce a benefit gig in aid of the Palestinian charity ‘Voices…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: ARSE CRAIC- ‘Craic Out Your Arse’ (2015)

    London Irish celtic-punk rock  Arse Craic combines the best traditional Irish folk music with fast-paced punk rock, for a rowdy pirate feel over their favourite three chords. The Irish community in London is old and long established and quite frankly massive. Apparently around six million Britons have an Irish grandparent (about 10% of the UK…

  • LONDON’S GREEN’n’WHITE: THE WAKES LIVE AT THE COCK TAVERN SATURDAY 29th AUGUST 2015

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: CHANGE OF VENUE LONDON’S GREEN’n’WHITE CELTIC SUPPORTERS IN LONDON UNITE! supported by the UNDERGROUND CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB HAYES BHOYS CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB BRIGHTON CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB LONDON CELTIC SUPPORTERS-FACEBOOK URBANKELT LONDON CELTIC PUNKS THE WAKES we are pleased to announce the headliners who will be making a very rare London appearance. The Wakes…

  • FILM REVIEW: ‘A MAN YOU DON’T MEET EVERY DAY’

    It’s the mid-nineties in London and a couple meet through a lonely hearts column. She is an middle class English married woman, he is an lonely Irish mechanic and despite the gulf between them they start an affair. A long forgotten slice of life from the early 90’s with a soundtrack from the best band of all time.…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: BRYAN McPHERSON- ‘Wedgewood’ (2015)

    Americana, folk, alternative and punk melded into one incendiary, incisive sound! With just a guitar and a harmonica you may well be excused for thinking that Bryan McPherson is just another run of the mill solo folk artist and the music does remind you a bit of Bob Dylan but with the intensity of Bruce Springsteen at his…

  • FILM REVIEW: SEAN CONNERY IN THE OFFENCE (1972)

    “after 20 years, what Detective-Sergeant Johnson has seen and done is destroying him” When I was a helluva lot younger than I am now I came across a film late one night hidden among the schedules. Strangely it starred the great Sean Connery which made me even more surpised that a film starring the biggest…

  • RED ROSES FOR ME AND ME

    How one man fell in love with The Pogues by John McNally There is certain things that are so momentous in life we remember the exact moment they happened, where we were, who you were with , the colour of our underwear. For a great number of people of a certain age it was “Where were you…

  • LONDON CELTIC PUNKS PRESENTS OUR BEST OF 2014!

    TOP TWENTY CELTIC PUNK ALBUMS OF 2014 Last year our ‘Best Of’ list was completely dominated by bands from these shores but this time there’s a much more international flavour to 2014’s Best Album’s list. Again Irish influenced bands dominate but the absolute standout album for me was without a doubt Uncle Bard And The Dirty Bastards…

  • FILM REVIEW: TAX CITY (2013)

    written and produced by Andy Nolan directed by Tom Begley starring Jon Campling, Steve Collins, Mark Hutchinson, Noel ‘Razor’ Smith, Tony Barber and Emily Hall http://www.clanlondonmovie.com Tax City is a muscular drama directed by London based Irish-born Tom Begley and written and produced by Andy Nolan. Andy plays accordion in celtic-rockers The Bible Code Sundays…

  • EP REVIEW: ANTO MORRA- ‘The Patriot’ (2014)

    somewhere between the Pogues and Ian Dury with perhaps a dash of Madness Over a year since Anto Morra’s last record, the superb album ‘Never Had To Shout’, comes his new EP released this week ‘The Patriot’. We are pleased to announce that it is more of the same. Yeah we know in some cases that…

  • NEW SINGLE RELEASE FROM CREEDS CROSS. ‘THIRD LIGHT’ IN AID OF ‘WAR CHILD’.

    Regular readers will remember back in June that we reviewed the new album from the latest addition to the London celtic-rock/punk scene, Creeds Cross. We were to put it simply, quite blown away! As good a debut album as you’ll find anywhere. You can read our review of ‘Gods And Fighting Men’ here where you can…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: STEVE WHITE AND THE PROTEST FAMILY- ‘This Band Is Sick’ (2014)

    The world’s favourite east London semi-acoustic singalong political folk punk group Similar to them Tories who end up investigating companies that they have in fact got £100,000 worth of shares in, I feel I must own up to something before my review begins. Arriving in London 24 years ago I did my best to follow my home…

  • UPDATE ON PAUL ‘mad dog’ McGUINNESS FROM THE POPES RECOVERY

      The great news is that Paul was eventually discharged  from Homerton Hospital in North London and continues to make great progress with his physical strength and mobility improving daily and also his cognitive skills. He has moved into a self contained flat and is well on the road to recovery. To those who hadn’t heard Paul…

  • BOOK REVIEW: IRISH BLOOD, ENGLISH HEART: SECOND GENERATION IRISH MUSICIANS IN ENGLAND

    By Donal Fallon In the recent excellent ‘Why Pamper Life’s Complexities? Essays on the Smiths’, co-edited by Seán Campbell and sociologist Colin Coulter, a recurring theme was the Irish heritage at the heart of the upbringing of members of the band. Those familiar with the politics and ideology of the band’s much-worshipped front man, Morrissey,…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: ANTO MORRA- ‘Never Had To Shout’ (2014)

    Every now and then you can come across a new act or artiste that literally blows your socks off and you just cannot work out how you had never heard of them before. Well this is exactly what happened recently with ourselves and Mr Anto Morra. Without going into the twists and turns of fate…

  • FILM REVIEW: IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE- THE SHANE MacGOWAN STORY

    Music videos and archived footage supplement recent interviews in this documentary of ex-Pogues singer Shane MacGowan. We follow his life from the early days in Ireland and England, through his formation of – and later dismissal from – The Pogues, to his new band The Popes. Shane’s family, friends, and former bandmates comment on the…

  • APPEARING SOON: ANTO MORRA- ‘London Irish’

    The wonderful Anto Morra telling it how it is with ‘London Irish’ “London town is always home to me But I’ve another across the Irish sea That my parents do come from But it’s not where i belong I’ve been called a Paddy and a English pom A thick Mick and lousy cockney scum But…

  • INTERVIEW WITH BRENDAN FROM THE LAGAN

    Way back in 2009 I trotted off to a Neck gig down County Holloway way and, having finished my can and a roll-up, wandered into the venue only to catch the last couple of songs of the first band on. Well having been suitably impressed I set out to track them down and after a…

  • 30492-LONDON CELTIC PUNK’S TOP TWENTY CELTIC-PUNK ALBUM’s OF ALL TIME‏

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! Today we celebrate the blog’s first anniversary so, in a case of obvious self-indulgence, we thought we’d share with you our TOP TWENTY CELTIC-PUNK ALBUM’s OF ALL TIME. The last year has flown by and, even better, feedback for the site seems to have been universally good. As long we’re appreciated it’s…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDS CROSS- ‘Gods And Fighting Men’ (2014)‏

    Its always great to hear about a new band on the London scene but when that band is super-bloody-fantastic its even better! Creed’s Cross are a relatively new band formed by internationaly celebrated musician Bart Foley. He’s accompanied by some stella fellow performers in Pat McManus of The Mamas Boys and Brian Kelly of The…

  • ALBUM REVIEW: THE CRAICHEADS- ‘Brewed In London’ (2014)‏

    London Irish Trad Rock As it says on their web site “When two Irishmen, and Englishman, a Frenchman and a Bulgarian all walked into a bar, no one could have predicted what would happen next” This is the first album from north-west London based band The Craicheads. Formed back in 2008 the boys have been…

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