Irish music scene is Rocking and Rolling

In his column, which he describes as a ‘stramash in the goalmouth of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ the celebrated songwriter, producer and manager, JOHN McLAUGHLIN, shares with us his insights into the music and entertainment world.

THIS month I thought I’d take a look at the beautiful explosion of Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll that’s happening right now and shine a light on some of the greats from the past that helped influence and bring us to this wonderful wealth of incredible new Irish music.

It’s undeniable everywhere you look there is a brilliant Irish band or Irish-influenced sound blasting out at a festival or on your socials—and, dare I say it, even on the old, soggy, wet sock that is the ‘stand up and salute the king’ BBC!

Traditional influence

Historically the Irish music that graced our lives, screens and ears would have been from the Trad scene with the likes of the brilliant Clancy Brothers, who influenced everyone from Bob Dylan, The Wolfe Tones, The Fureys and The Pogues.

Throughout the 1970s there was the old smiley velvet toned Irish crooner Val Doonican who had his very own prime time TV show that attracted around 20 million viewers every week ‘til the mid 80’s! In Irish ‘pop’ world there was the girl next door and ever wholesome Dana who kicked off a long standing bond with Ireland and the Eurovision Song Contest by winning it in 1970. Fast forward 50 odd years and Ireland now—and rightly so in my view—will boycott Eurovision while Israel is participating.

You also have not one, but two Beatles having their say on the conflict in Ireland. In the 1970s Paul McCartney released Give Ireland Back to the Irish and John Lennon put out Luck of the Irish and Sunday Bloody Sunday.

The list of amazing artists influenced by Traditional Irish music continued with the likes of Rory Gallagher, considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time, Van Morrison, the wonderful Dubliners, Thin Lizzy, The Cranberries and probably the biggest global Irish band to date, U2.

The saviour of Irish music in the 1980s, for me, was Shane MacGowan and The Pogues bringing a punk rock twist to the tradition Irish sound while writing what I consider not only the best Irish songs ever written, but some of the greatest songs ever written. And in complete contrast to that, you’ve got to give the one and only Daniel O’Donnell a nod for keeping all the wee Mas and Grannies happy over the years with that Irish glint in his eyes and smile you couldn’t get off with a jib, while taking a shedload of flak for his cheesy balladeering and filling his boots with massive sold out shows at the same time. Hats off to you Danny boy!

And onto the 2000s and a big thank you to my pals Westlife for giving me my first Number One record with Queen of my Heart in 2001—great proud Irishmen and big Celtic fans too. Many of their hits over the years have had strong Celtic influences and it’s fair to say they are one of Irelands biggest musical exports.

Today’s scene

So, onto today’s brilliant batch of Irish-born artists and you’ve got to start with the earthshakingly epic Kneecap. With their ground-breaking mix of hip-hop and dance, mainly sung in their native tongue, not only are they winning over the youth with their raw energy and genius songs and lyrics, it’s their powerful message of unbending support for the people of Palestine, Lebanon and Cuba—they wear their hearts on their sleeves and put their money where their mouth is. God bless them for it too! I was lucky enough to see them at the Barrowland last year and then again at their album launch for their latest album Fenian in The Garage. It took me back to my misspent youth watching The Clash and The Damned at the Apollo in Glasgow.

Today’s more punky Irish-folk band and lovable rouges are The Mary Wallopers with their mix of old and new Irish-influenced songs. They effortlessly manage to melt heartfelt ballads and bare-faced humour played with an Irish punk rockness. The main writers and singers are brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy from Dundalk. I’ve been a fan for a good few years and I’m delighted to see them playing massive shows all over the globe now. Their new single, Crowns of England, is a work of genius. It sums up what it can be like being Irish in England today and is unforgiving in its assessment. It truly is the modern day rebel record—it’s my fave rave of the year so far!

There really are so many great Irish artists out there today from Fontaines DC to the hotly-tipped Florence Road and The Cardinals.

Tribute to Shane

This year’s forthcoming tribute album to the late great Shane MacGowan—which is set for release in November—also features a host of those flying the flag for new Irish music with the likes of Hozier, LYRA, Kingfishr, Mundy, Glen Hansard, The High Kings and my very own band Johnny Mac and the Faithful, as well as global rock stars Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, U2, Steve Earle, Primal Scream to name a few.

Add to this lot even the world famous Ed Sheeran. With his Irish passport—his Dad is Irish—and being a lover of Irish music and culture, he is flying the tricolour flag too.

This leaves us in great shape for much more of the music that we love that has an undeniable Irish stamp on it, for many moons to come. Until then my friends I’ll see ye down the front at the next Daniel O’Donnell gig.

PIC: PAUL HUDSON