NEW SINGLE: GRASS MUD HORSE ARE BACK WITH ‘Pissed It All Away’

Chris Barry from Grass Mud Horse has been a very busy man since we last heard from him. Starring in several movies (or at least appearing in several movies!) and then re-locating back to his adopted home in Canada. From one totalitarian state to another !! Well he has a new single out this week and here’s the story behind it.

Well it has been a while since we featured Grass Mud Horse and it’s great to see them back and back on top form too. ‘Pissed it All Away?’ is the first single since ‘Johnny Todd’ a collaboration with Frankie McLaughlin in June 2021 and while that may not seem long for most Celtic-Punk bands for Grass Mud Horse it’s an eternity! The song was the first that Chris wrote for the band and is based on a auld mate’s story about his Grandad back in Glasgow. We’ll let Chris take it from here

” The story went that by all accounts his Grandad was a great Goalie, but also a great drinker.  Celtic scouts had taken an interest and arranged to meet with him and his Mum and Dad after he finished work.  All he had to do was swerve the pub after work and go straight home.  Sadly his mates twisted his rubber arm and he went down the pub, and the opportunity to try out for Celtic went down the drain. He quite literally, pissed it all away.  

I realised, as I’d hit my 30s I had more and more mates with similar stories about their own opportunities that they’d pissed away, in one way or another. In actuality there’s was more than one opportunity that I’d pissed away myself.  So from all that I wrote the first Grass Mud horse song. “

He coulda been a keeper
For Celtic it was said
He coulda done so many things

But he was always off his head

He coulda been the president
Or an artist they would say
But hed rather drink than write or think
So he pissed it all away
☘
He had an eye for business

He was always in the know

When making new investments
He was the man to go
Well I heard he made a million

And I heard they made him pay

When he shot the lot on booze and pot
And pissed it all away
☘
Pissed it all away
He coulda done so many things
If from drinking he could stay
And its another night another fight
As they carry him away
Well they shake their heads put him to bed

Who pissed it all away

☘
He coulda been the champion
He coulda ruled the ring
He coulda won the belt
Yeah he woulda been a king
But he vowed to throw in the towel

If it ever got in the way

For his love of booze hed gladly lose
And piss it all away
☘
Pissed it all away
He coulda done so many things
If from drinking he could stay
And its another night another fight
As they carry him away
Well they shake their heads put him to bed

Who pissed it all away

☘
On karaoke night
Hed always steal the light
He could barely stand
But his voice was grand
In between him talking shite
An I assure you its no fluke

He was in an indie group

But he drank the advance on a tour of France
And pissed it all away

☘

He coulda been the champion
He coulda ruled the ring
He coulda won the belt
Yeah he woulda been a king
But he vowed to throw in the towel

If it ever got in the way

For his love of booze hed gladly lose
And piss it all away
☘
Pissed it all away
He coulda done so many things
If from drinking he could stay
And its another night another fight
As they carry him away
Well they shake their heads put him to bed

Who pissed it all away

*

What happened to the last two albums?

“China and Covid. The situation there became too much and one by one the original line up of Grass Mud Horse got out. For the first two years the borders where closed and we effectively couldn’t leave, then it opened a little but flights where incredibly expensive. So we where waiting to see if China eased up, or flights became more reasonable.

We’ve all left except Josh who is seeing out a contract and then I think he will leave too, so that should tell you which happened first. I still have family there and will maybe go back one day, so I won’t say too much more.

It became very stressful, months without work, sometimes on rations and I have a 4 year old so the stress and anxiety made finishing the albums the least of priorities.

Well me and my daughter are in Canada now, where my parents emigrated to years ago. My plan is to put together a new Grass Mud Horse line-up to play live and slowly get back to recording. This (Pissed it All Away) single was about ready to go, so I decided to get it out as sort of celebration that I’m free and able to get back to what I love doing. The other two albums will come in time”

So what else is in the future for you and Grass Mud Horse?

“Well I write and record all our original stuff myself, so Grass Mud Horse is just a matter of me finding people I gel with to perform the material together live. I’ve found a bass player and will keep looking for others.

At some point I will return to the Pirate songs and Sea Shanties album and I think Pieces of My Heart will eventually come out as a collection of the singles to date as well as a couple of unheard tracks.

Right now though, I’m looking forward to putting together a band, getting out there again live…that hasn’t been an option for a few years, so that will be enjoyable. And of course Pissed it All Away comes out on the 25th which is the first single since back in like spring 2021, when we did Johnny Todd with Frankie. So for me it’s an important one.”

SPOTIFY

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CELTIC-PUNK Q AND A : FRANKIE McLAUGHLIN

Welcome to a new special feature that we will be running for the next few days to celebrate the ninth birthday of our first post. Based on the feature that use to appear in the football magazines of my youth it’s just a short series of questions about stuff’n’nonsense as me auld Nan would have said.

Our second Q And A is with the unsinkable Frankie McLaughlin. A sharp witted, personable, lovable rogue of a fella it’s not stretching the imagination to say that the London Celtic Punks bhoys have a LOT of love for this fella. What he has given the Celtic-Punk scene is immeasurable and we can think of no better way to say this other than Gangs Of New Holland was placed #1 in our Top 20 Best Ever Celtic-Punk Albums Of All Time.

Name / Nickname : Frankie McLaughlin

Age (Estimate allowed!) : 50-ish and a bit

Status : Married

Birthplace / Nationality / Ancestry : Glasgow, Scotland / Scottish / Irish twice over

Occupation : Self Employed

First job : Freight handler & factory labourer

A job you would have loved to do : Joiner or Vintner.. or Ferry Captain

What / Who makes you laugh : Cheeky old folk with no f**ks left to give

Favourite movie star : John Turturro

Favourite film / TV show : The Road Dance / Still Game

Favourite band/s : Old Blind Dogs, The Stooges, The Pogues, The East Pointers, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Favourite Celtic-Punk bands : Pogues

Up and coming Celtic-Punk band to watch : Brave the Sea, from Ohio

First and last record you bought : Adam & The Ants – Kings of the Wild Frontier.. Iggy Pop – A Million In Prizes – The Anthology

How many instruments can you play : Guitar, Whistles, Smallpipes, Bodhran & Accordion,.. all to varying degrees

How many bands have you been in : 4.. I think

Favourite venue / gig attended : Some dear friends & I went to see Andy Irvine play in what used to be our old house, which had since been converted to an arts & entertainment venue. The set from Andy was just amazing, and the whole thing particularly memorable for us

Describe yourself in 5 words : ‘Wot’s this button ‘ere for?’

Most embarrassing moment : Finding out what that button there was for

Favourite song and why : Lately its ‘Twa Brothers’ by Yorkston/Thorne/Khan. A traditional ballad accompanied only by a second vocal by Suhail Yusuf Khan singing ‘Bol’ – a type of rythmic vocal from India that mimics the sound of the Tabla. The way the two vocal traditions smash together on that is just mind blowing and lends enormous drama to the tale,.. Its just so refreshing

Favourite song you’ve been involved in: ‘Kathleen’ for me is a favourite to recall, as I got to release a song for ma wee mum, but also ‘Eight Beers McGee’.. it didnt really take flight that one, but the immense back story, how it found its way to me and the intense process of writing it was of enormous personal significance to me at the time

Team/s supported as a kid : Glasgow Celtic

Favourite sportsperson : Henrik Larsson

Favourite sport : Fitba’

All time hero : Ken Carter – Canadian Daredevil

Favourite book : Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West – Cormac McCarthy

Best friend : The Wife.. by far

Biggest influence on career : The everyday people I’ve met in life, briefly or otherwise, friends, foes or family, without whom there’d be no stories worth singin’

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given : ‘Always judge a person by their own merits, and ONLY ever with your own eyes and ears.’ – Bill McLaughlin, Grandfather

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? On a Canal Boat

Your five dream dinner guests? : Frances Farmer, Iggy Pop, Sheila Stewart, John Cooper Clark and Jeong Kwan.. If they’ll all fit on the canal boat, otherwise just Iggy & Jeong Kwan

Your favourite quote: My all time fave is a poem, by James Graham, Marquis of Montrose –

Let them bestow on every airth a limb,

Then open all my veins, that I may swim

To thee, my Maker, in that crimson lake,

Then place my par boiled head upon a stake;

Scatter my ashes, strow them in the air.

Lord, since thou knowest where all these atoms are,

I’m hopeful thou’lt recover once my dust,

And confident thou’lt raise me with the just.

Anything to plug / promote : I’ve a new project ‘Liptons Orphan’, with the first couple of singles / videos rolling out just now on the usual platforms & channels.

The (very) recent new single from Frankie and his new project Lipton’s Orphans. There’s a lot more to come. Thank God!

EXCLUSIVE! FIRST SINGLE FROM FRANKIE McLAUGHLIN’S NEW PROJECT LIPTON’S ORPHANS

A London Celtic Punks exclusive! We are pleased to be the first to bring you the new single and first release ‘Alang Cam A Boaby’ from Lipton’s Orphan, the long awaited new project featuring former Rumjack, Frankie McLaughlin.

It’s been a long time coming but worth the wait in the long run and we’d like to say a huge thanks to Frankie for allowing London Celtic Punks to share the exclusive first showing of his new music with Lipton’s Orphans with the promise of lots more to come!

“Inspired by true events, and by a creepy little wrong-un from the local constabulary”

ALANG CAM A BOABY

I were were ridin’ by the White Cart, A favourite o’ mine,
I were happy and ma business were mine alane tae mind,
About tae tan a couple o’ cans & leave the world behind,
When alang cam a Boaby, yak de yaldy daa..

(CHORUS)
He were ‘HAW, STOP! Who are you y’f**ker?’ and the rest,
And he’s pointed tae the shiny badge he’d pinned upon his chest,
A dirty trotter point in’ east the other lookin’ west,
A wee fat Boaby, yak de yaldy daa..

Aw Boaby is it lost ye are? and no fed up i hope?
Nae weans left tae batter or nae lassies for tae grope,
Nae gammie up the calton for a baggie fu’ ay dope?
Sick wee Boaby, yak de yaldy daa..

He’s callt me aw the bastarts, spittin’ in ma face,
He’s gone for aw his thingmy-jigs his zappers and his mace,
H’es hi-de-ho’d his radio a squealin for his mates,
A saft wee Boaby, yak de yaldy daa..

Ya pervy little porky bit, i’ll pull ye doon a peg,
Now get tae ‘fore I fire ye oan a roll wi’ beans & egg,
The likes o’ you are overdue a switch aboot yer neck.

All performances: Frankie McLaughlin. Video shot and edited: Frankie McLaughlin.

Welcome back Frankie, what’s the news? Is it a new band you’ve got,.. or are you flying solo?

“Lipton’s Orphan was what my Mother used to call me anytime I was looking particularly scruffy, or came in the door covered head to toe in mud & shite.. so yeah, I heard it a lot I guess,.well into my adult years too.” “It was a popular saying around Glasgow once upon a time, and as it turns out refers to a fella named Thomas Lipton, as in Lipton’s tea. More specifically it refers to his pig.. which he would buy from the market and parade through the town with ‘Lipton’s Orphan’ daubed on the side of it.. apparently to drum up business for his grocery store. He was a definite character, once awarded a cup for being ‘The Worlds Best Loser’.. fantastic!” “Anyway, the name just kept popping up in my life for a bit there again, so I took the cue and adopted it. Sometimes it’s just myself,.. others it’ll be a few other folks involved.. depending on whose hanging about & not up to much.”
“So primarily just a recording project for now, with the occasional pop-up here & there.”

Tell us about the song, and well, ..what is a ‘Boaby’..

“The song came originally from a ‘chance encounter’ with a representative of the local constabulary while out walking the woods near my home at the time, a proper slimy wee wrong-un who displayed some seriously worrying behaviour. I’d finally got shot of the clown and was leaving the woods when I saw the ubiquitous A.C.A.B painted on the underpass, the chorus was born right then in my head, a humorous little ditty,.. I remember in England they used to call a policeman a ‘Bobby’, and in Scotland ‘Boaby’ is the term for the male appendage,.. the rest wrote itself.”

The video is pretty wild, where’s that coming from?

“I took my wee camera for a walk back to the woods and shot all the background stuff. There’s the remains of a fortified Iron Age settlement there, where I shot a lot of bits, it’s an amazing place.” “Apart from the Boaby himself, the only other two creatures I recall from that day were a crow, who just kinda followed me through the wood the whole time, and a stag that I spotted alone in his enclosed field. I’d been bingeing hard on a lot of old films including the original Wicker Man, so the old guising masks were born outta that as a way of telling the story.”

And can we take this as a sign of more to come?

“There’s a whole other load o’ songs around here in various states just now, so I guess we’ll get a few more things out there soon,.. then there’s a bunch o’ stuff that I think’ll better suit an entirely solo approach, so I’ll have a crack at that too.”

The single ‘Alang Cam A Boaby’ will be available this week via all major digital platforms

SPOTIFY

ODDS’N’SODS. A CELTIC-PUNK ROUND UP OCTOBER 2021

It’s time now again for this months London Celtic Punks round-up of all the band news, record releases and videos from bands big and small from across the Celtic-Punk scene.

We start with some interesting news from West Britain Dublin of a new Celtic-Punk band THE BLACK IRISH. Whistle, sax, mandolin, accordion, fiddle, bass, drums, 2 guitars, 4 vocals. Brand new, formed with experienced trad and punk musicians. Looking for gigs in the UK and US. The Bhoys have already played a stack of gigs and have more lined up. Sep 10th – IE – Dublin, Grand Social Sep 25th – FR – Montpellier, Secret Place Sep 26th – FR – Montpellier, Secret Place, acoustic sessions Nov 19th – IE – Dublin, Grand Social, with Booze and Glory Dec 10th – FR – Paris, Montreuil, la Comedia Dec 11th – BE – Ghent, Nazareth, Grand Canyon Jan 7th – NI – Belfast, voodoo. You can check them out yourselves on their Facebook page.

More from the ‘Auld Sod’ now and news of two projects to help and promote the Irish language. The idea is to make music under two different band names – PONCCC and DRAOI.MUIR. As Ponccc it will mostly concentrate on post-punk/shoegaze kind of music. As Draoi.Muir the style of music will be more droney/ambient rock. They recently recorded a King Gizzard cover for You Tube. There’s an example of their work as PONCCCC and the song ‘Mo Scriobhaí’ below. The Welsh languages strong position is due in no small measure to its success in the 80’s/90’s in various music genres from Punk legends Anhrefn to rubbish pop band Super Furry Animals! We hope to be looking into this project in more detail soon.

Even more news from home and their debut song, a hardcore ‘Drunken Sailor’, from up and coming North Sligo band the CHURCH HOUSE CREEPERS. They said to expect more of this kind of stuff to follow so keep an eye out here!

The Graveyard Johnny’s CALLUM HOUSTON has featured on these pages several times and he has just released a radically different version of ‘Gravities’ from the EP of the same name. The EP was reviewed back in 2019 if you want to check out the EP that made #5 in our Best Of list that year.

Prescription Punk Rock interviewed Tim Brennan about the new Dropkick Murphys album Turn Up The Dial. Here’s the whole interview without any editing.

THE BLAGGARDS – Blagmatic (review on it’s way!)

GERRY RAFFERTY – Rest In Blue

PHIL ODGERS – Ghosts Of Rock’n’Roll

TORTILLA FLAT – New Stuff In An Old Barrel (review on it’s way!)

THE STAB ROVERS – Beyond The Waves

CONNEMARA STONE COMPANY – For One Ireland

THE O’REILLYS AND THE PADDYHATS – In Strange Waters

remember we can’t review what we don’t hear!

Top geeza FRANKIE McLAUGHLIN is keeping busy and has just done guest vocals for another band. This time Greek’s BACK PAGES on their song ‘Glory Comes’. The song features the sound of Greek bagpipes and a wicked geetar solo!

I hate the word ‘contempory’ as it conjures up an image of a table full of ex-public schoolboys stroking their beards trying to outdo each other with the latest trend but for once the word fits quite nicely when applied to GLENN HODGE BANNED. A solo artist whose previous single ‘As It Is’ we positively loved. Well he’s a new album out, The Long Run, and just released the first single ‘Jack Of All Trades’ Filmed in one shot on the iPhone 12 and recorded in a theatre in Camden Town the song speaks of the journeyman artist that continue against all the odds.

Came across this by accident not long back and really liked it. Recent release to YouTube from PINE TREE RIOT. Riot seems to be replacing ‘Bastard’ as the most popular Celtic/Folk- Punk name. I even think the Yanks call this style of music Riot Folk or something. Anyway its pretty decent.

Dutch band PLUNDER released their new album Vrijhaven last July and here have put out the second single from it. Seems to be a bit of a renaissance among Pirate themed bands of late. Absolutely brilliant video.

“LIVE MUSIC LIVE MUSIC LIVE MUSIC LIVE MUSIC”. It just sounds so good even to just say it!!! ‘Bastard’ will always be favourite band-name though (except for one!) and just to prove it here’s BASTARD FOLK from faraway Russia giving it large.

We mentioned the The Swamp Rabbit Celtic Punk Fest in South Carolina last month well it went ahead and was by all accounts a damn good laugh. Here’s our old mate TC COSTELLO who organised the whole shebang playing with THE PYRATE QUEEN.

This section is for Celtic-Punk bands that have (on the large) left us but their music is still deserving to be heard and there are still so many out there that passed us by. Today is the turn of THE SORRY LOT, a nine piece Irish Folk and ballad group from Napa, California. High-energy renditions of trad drinking songs, as well as a few modern and original tunes, while keeping the music true to it’s roots. The Beer Flood EP dates from 2015 and the band have a wealth of other music on their Bandcamp page that is also available for free download including a live album from St. Patrick’s Day 2013 recorded at Downtown Joe’s Brewery in their hometown. It’s a bit unclear if they are still playing or not but you can still contact them over on Facebook.

Don’t forget the big news of next month is the release of the new FEROCIOUS DOG album The Hope. The single ‘The Hope’ comes out on the 10th and the album is out the 15th. Reviews are already sneaking out. You can pre-order it here: https://thehope.ferociousdog.co.uk/

Forty years after breaking up in their prime. A band has returned from the ashes to give it another lash… No not Abba but VENTURA HIGHWAY from Derry. One of the cities original New Wave / Punk bands. Loads of recent live videos over on their Facebook page.

Interesting video here. Yer-man may be a bit of a prick and he could have chosen an actually Irish Folk song (facepalm!) but at least he’s honest prick! Give it a go as some Irish diaspora Hip-Hop out there is pretty good. Check out SLAINE for a start.

The more I see of Facebook the more and more I dislike it. It’s stranglehold on all forms of expression is not good so if you feel the same you can now subscribe to London Celtic Punks posts via our group on the new phone app Telegram. Very similar in style (but better and easier to use) than What’s App and completely free from Facebook control. Join us on Telegram and don’t miss a single post! https://t.me/londoncelticpunks/  

Some London Celtic Punks news now and we still have a handful of Green’n’White ‘Skully Cap’ ringer t-shirts available. They come in all sizes from Small right up to XXX-L and are available from our online store. Also available are 2 other shirt designs so click the link below for our full range of other tatt. Shirts, badges, stickers, flags, CD’s and fridge magnets all the discerning Celtic-Punk fan could ever need!  https://the30492shop.fwscart.com/

A plug for 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 and join in the fun!

*If you are new to the London Celtic Punks blog it is easy to subscribe / follow and never miss a post. Bands, promoters, record labels, venues send in any news to londoncelticpunks@hotmail.co.uk or via the Contact Us page.

ALBUM REVIEW: THE RUMPLED – ‘The Perfect Match’ (2021)

Another release from prolific Italian Celtic-Punkers The Rumpled. With a sound influenced by traditional Irish Folk they are already one of the best bands in the scene and a band to expect big things from in the near future.

The last few years have been quite a time for fans of Celtic-Punk in Italy. While the genre has always been popular due in no small part to to the friendly relations between Italy and the Celtic nations never before has Italy had quite so many great bands, among them some of the best in Europe. I won’t go into the names as I’m afraid to miss one of them but a simple search among the posts here will give you the opportunity to give your ears a real treat. The Rumpled are one such band and in their relatively short existence they have been as prolific as any band in Celtic-Punk. Formed in Trento in the north in 2013 it was five years before they got some songs down on record and the result was Ashes & Wishes, recorded and produced by Gianluca of Black Dingo Productions, who have supported The Rumpled ever since. A sixty date tour of Switzerland, France and Italy in 2119 promoting the Grace O’Malley EP was followed by another EP, Toss The Coin, and tour the following year. Of course Covid soon arrived and any plans the band had were shelved while the world came to terms with what was going on.  Despite this the band ploughed on and did manage to release both Home Sessions, a EP of covers with the help of some pretty well known faces in Firkin and Uncle Bard And The Dirty Bastards, and an acoustic EP Rumplugged.

The Rumpled from left to right: Michele Mazzurana- Drums, Backing Vocals * Davide Butturini- Guitars * Patrizia Vaccari- Fiddle * Marco Andrea Micheli- Lead Vocals * Luca Tasin- Bassman, Backing Vocals * Tommaso Zamboni- Accordion *

The new album is called The Perfect Match and was released late last month again for Black Dingo and while new material is thin on the ground, with it being basically a re-recorded and re-vamped compilation of The Rumpled’s last two studio releases it is still an outstanding release and the perfect place to enter if you are new to the band. The Perfect Match kicks off with ‘Time To Go’, the album’s only new song and which was also the lead single for the album. The song is dedicated to Italian para-olympian athlete Giuliana Chiara Filippi and her story of fortitude and resilience, despite her many obstacles to overcome, and her dream to represent Italy in the Paralympics. Inspired they choose her to be featured as the main character in the video. A truly Perfect Match.

A great rocking start and a lovely tribute. We wish her well. Talking about the single The Rumpled said

“The song is an invitation to return to life with energy and enthusiasm and move into the future, throwing the difficult situation of last year behind us. After this long break, our desire to restart, to get back on stage and perform for a crowd is uncontainable, that’s why we all sing the in chorus: “hey ho, it’s time to go, we’re gonna raise hell tonight – So let’s go to another show and everything’s gonna be alright”!”

Musically The Rumpled play an energetic and lively style of Celtic-Punk. While The Rumjacks influence casts a shadow over much of the Italian Celtic-Punk scene The Rumpled have always done their own thing with a sound influenced by traditional Irish Folk music as much as anything. ‘Stand Up’ was the opening track on the Toss The Coin and sees the band accompanied by the Bold Rumjacker himself Frankie McLaughlin. Accordion led and with one hell of a catchy chorus it’s fist in the air time here as you swing your mates round and round. The energy is unrelenting and continues throughout the albums forty minutes with only a handful of pauses for breathe.

The following six songs also come from the Toss The Coin with ‘Take A Drop’ and ‘The Gipsy Dancer’, a lead single from Toss The Coin and you will see where the EP gets its title from in the excellent accompanying video. ‘The Road’ is less ‘traditional’ and more modern sounding Celtic-Punk combining elements of Ska with some great ‘Woah-Woah-Woahh’ gang vocals. ‘One Love’ is the first of two songs to feature guests from fellow Italian Celtic-Folk-Rockers Folkamiseria from western Piedmont. More Folk orientated but still with that harder edge while ‘Broken Romances’ has a more harder edge.

‘Patty’s Jig’ was the final song on the EP but here marks half way. Accompanied again by Folkamiseria on bouzouki The Rumpled show they can go full on traditional with a self penned Irish Folk tune that could have been written a hundred years ago!! Song #9 here is the song that began the Grace O’Malley EP ‘Song of Ill Repute’, a speedy accordion and fiddle led whirling dervish of a song which is followed by the EP’s title track, a extended version, ‘Grace O’Malley’. With over 1,000,000 plays on Spotify and a place in the Top Ten Celtic-Punk EP’s Of 2019 on this here web-zine. Grace O’Malley was known as ‘The Pirate Queen’ and until recently was largely known only to Irish communities around the world with tales of her exploits being told and re-told through the generations. A fearless leader over land and sea, a politician and tactician, rebel and pirate, and the ’most notorious woman in all the coasts of Ireland’.

‘Fearless And Brave’ sees the band accompanied by Paddy O’Reilly from the awesome Celtic-Punk band Paddy And The Rats. Utterly brilliant the dual vocals work to great effect while the Celtic-Punk crosses into Ska and back. ‘Feelin’ Fine’ keeps up the pace going and finally ‘The Maiden’ brings down the curtain.

So while it’s a shame for us long time fans of the band not to have an album of brand new music its perfectly understandable that The Rumpled want to get their music out to as wider audience as possible and this is a great opportunity for them to do so. So if you’re a fan pass this on to someone who isn’t (yet!) and make their day. The album is available on both download and physical release and also why not read up on Grace O’Malley it really is a fascinating story.

Buy The Perfect Match  Here  Contact The Rumpled  WebSite  Facebook  Instagram  YouTube

Black Dingo Productions  WebSite  Facebook

AULD ENEMY BEWARE. McGREEVEYS AND FRANKIE Mc ARE HERE!

With Scotland heading to London tomorrow to play the ‘auld enemy’, McGreevey’s Tartan Army with a little help from Mr. Francis McLaughlin offer up their own party anthem to try and inspire the lads onwards to victory.

Nae Scotland, Nae Pairty! ‘Mon the Scotland!!!

Tomorrow night sees the 115th time Scotland and England have met in a football international. The English have had the slight edge so far winning 48 games to Scotland’s 41 with 25 draws. They may be outsiders for the game but that’s how we like it and there’s plenty evidence to show a major upset is on the cards. Here’s five times Scotland put the ‘Auld Enemy it it’s place.

1. England 2 Scotland 3 – 1967

Scotland became ‘Unofficial World Champions’ after defeating the World Cup champions on the very ground where they had lifted the cup the previous summer. The Scots line-up featured four of Celtic’s European Cup winning Lisbon Lions plus Denis Law and the mercurial Jim Baxter. It was Baxter who provided the most memorable moment, playing keepie-uppie at walking pace deep inside the England half. Law, Bobby Lennox and Jim McCalliog got the goals but it could have been so many more such was Scotland’s superiority.

2. England 1 Scotland 2 -1977

Best remembered for after the game which saw thousands of tartan-clad away fans celebrating on the pitch and hauling down the goalposts and digging up the turf as souvenirs. The first time Scotland had beaten England in a decade came via goals from Gordon McQueen and Kenny Dalglish on an afternoon when those in dark blue sunk England’s hopes with a dominant display.

3. Scotland 2 England 1 – 1874

It all began on this day at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick. A London-based sports magazine reported that England “played splendidly” but had been defeated because the Scots – who lined up in a 2-2-6 formation – “completely puzzled their opponents in the art of passing the ball.”

4. England 1 Scotland 2 – 1963

As strong a squad of players as Scotland have ever had they followed up the previous years win over England with another here to seal the Home International crown. Two first-half goals from Jim Baxter sealed a deserved win in front of 100,000 spectators.

5. England 1 Scotland 5 – 1928

Remembered as the day the ‘Wembley Wizards’ demolished England beneath the twin towers. Scotland’s first win at the Empire Stadium came courtesy of a forward line none of whom were above five foot seven. Alex Jackson scored a hat-trick while Preston’s Alex James nabbed two. Later James would say “we could have had ten.”

‘Mon all ye guid yins o’ every degree,

All sons & daughters o’ Scotia tae me,

Let fly the colours o’ yer wilds and yer toons,

The fire o’ yer spirits and yer best dancin’ tunes.

*

CHORUS

If yer efter a perrty, yer efter a show,

We’ll bring the magic where e’er we go,

Across every ocean, and hunner’s o’ miles,

Here come The Scotland, we’re your best wee pals!

*

All witches, madmen & heroes its true,

Merchin’ a’gither neath our banner sae blue,

Heres tae us wha’s like us? Damn few an they’re a’ deid!

Intae ’em oor Scotland, noo mind & keep the heid.

*

Ring oot the bells, take the drums roon’ the streets,

NAE SCOTLAND, NAE PAIRTY! we’ll lift ye tae yer feet,

We’ll heave away, haul away,

Portpatrick up tae Stornaway,

Elgin doon Belhaven Bay,

We’ll dance the country roon’

*

CHORUS

If yer efter a perrty, yer efter a show,

We’ll bring the magic where e’er we go,

We’re all in it th’gither Come win or bloody lose,

We’re McGreevy’s Tartan Army and we’re here tae tan yer booze!

Written and performed by Frankie McLaughlin, featuring McGreevy’s Tartan Army

The McGreevy’s Tartan Army what was soon tae become the McGreevy’s 45 Tartan Army back in 2014 after a trip tae Boston fur St Paddy’s day tae see the DKM and spent most of the five day trip getting looked after fae McGreevy’s and the good folk of Boston so when we came hame we started the McGreevy’s Tartan Army for folk who like Celtic-Folk-Punk, fitbaw and Scottish Independence. You will see oor banners at all the Indy marches, Scotland games and gigs if they let us in 😆 . Wae met Ken Casey in McGreevy’s and Dunfermline wae Ken Paul and Aspy fae the McKenzies and then thurs yin eh oor ain Oor Frankie McLaughlin who like his wife Shelby has become part of oor family. She has her ain shithot band The Gallowgate Murders we got the gether wae Frankie fur a song fur the Euros we gave him……Nae Scotland Nae pairty and he came up wae the rest so thats us maybe see yi all doon in Wembley  🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🍀⚽️🍺🍻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

McGREEVEY’S TARTAN ARMY  Instagram

ODDS’N’SODS. CELTIC-PUNK ROUND UP JUNE 2021

Summer’s here, the pubs are re-opening, live music is returning and the world of Celtic-Punk is getting back to normal as well! This months Odds’n’Sods features all the band news, record releases, videos from bands big and small across the Celtic-Punk scene. 

Kicking off this month with the new video from THE DROPKICK MURPHYS continue their tradition of celebrating their bagpipers with this beauty dedicated to new piper Lee Forshner. The vid is animated by Adam Murphy (@adammurphyart).

A whole host of new tour dates have been released too with several English and Scots dates culminating in a gig at Wembley Arena!

New tour dates announced today from THE RUMJACKS of their most extensive tour of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Ireland ever for Jan/ Feb 2022. Supported on most dates by the fantastic SHANGHAI TREASON. Check both bands FB pages for dates.

Speaking of SHANGHAI TREASON they put out the third track from their upcoming debut album last week. ‘On The Ropes’ tells of a boxer approaching retirement and again shows their the hottest band in Celtic-Punk at the moment.

English Celtic-Folk-Punk rockers FOLK THE SYSTEM release their second album soon and it’s available for pre-release sale from http://www.folkthesystem.co.uk

Eddie Lawlor from the fantastic Aussie Celtic-Punk band MEDUSA’S WAKE has been releasing the odd solo track here and there and his new one ‘The Orange And Green’ shows what a great talent this fella is. You can watch it on Facebook here.

Exciting news from the Orient (and I don’t just mean the appointment of Kenny Jackett) that the new single from Chinese/ Liverpool Irish band GRASS MUD HORSE lands next week and features the incredible vocal talents and tin-whistling of yer man himself FRANKIE McLAUGHLIN. Tune in here on June 8th to hear it.

Cool as hell video from THE POSITIVE AUTISM of the Murph’s ‘Shipping Up To Boston’. The Positive Autism is 2-Man Band featuring an autistic singer (Micah) and his dad (Danny). We make music to promote autism acceptance. Micah has difficulty talking to people so music gives him a voice. Exact;ly what music ought to do. Support the guys and if you have a song request for Micah leave it in the comments.

Norway’s Premier League Celtic-Punk hitters the GREENLAND WHALEFISHERS have re-visted, re-mastered and re-released their first four albums. Mainstreet Sword, Loboville, Streets Of Salvation and the collection of B-Sides and other crap, Amazing Space (b-sides and other crap). The albums are available on all digital platforms now.

Toronto band OLD MAN FLANAGHAN’S GHOST have a new album out. Re-mastered and re-jiggered from their Covid Live Stream performance. Fourteen tracks of covers and originals they have never recorded before.

I can’t remember how I came across TEDDY HORSE but imagine a sound somewhere in the middle of Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Will Oldham and the Godfather of Celtic-Punk Shane MacGowan. A sort of Celtic-Emo if you will. Unusual but a real grower.

FIDDLER’S GREEN premiered their new track ‘Haul Away, Joe’ on You Tube this month and it features the comforting sound of a hurdy-gurdy!

THE POKES – Sail

LEWIS BURNER – Dark Wheels Turn Above Our Heads

LIDDINGTON HILL – Cow

SHAMBOLICS – Goin’ Off

THE BLACK CLOVER – Just Another Pub

remember we can’t review what we haven’t heard!

The ever prolific London Celtic Punks fave TIM HOLEHOUSE has a new album out called simply ‘?’. It’s a collection of tracks from compilations, and some other unearthed gems.

Galician street punk / Oi! band KELTOI! celebrate 15 years together in 2021 and have just released a 2-track single. If you’re into bands like the Cockney Rejects then check these guys out. The very definition of a CELTIC-punk band!

This month we are re-visiting my favourite album from Canadians KNACKER’S YARD. High energy traditional Celtic-Folk from Victoria, BC, since late 2012. Gangers, Chancers And The Craic was released on July 6, 2018 and features an amazing seventeen songs and is available as a ‘name your price’ download on Bandcamp. Strongly committed to the preservation of over four centuries of Irish, Scottish, and English traditional music. For fans of The Dubliners, Pogues, Wolfe Tones, Ryan’s Fancy, Stan Rogers, Ewan MacColl, Shirley Collins, Dominic Behan, Planxty, and many more! Knacker’s Yard are still playing and releasing albums and are now up to seven with last year’s Strayaway Child.

Facebook has become an unlikeable monster with more and more good folk leaving. Can’t say I blames you. So we have set up a Telegram group. Similar but better (and easier to use) than What’s App and free from Facebook control. Join us on Telegram and don’t miss a single post! https://t.me/londoncelticpunks/

A plug for 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 and join in the fun!

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.