The Mary Wallopers have released their sophomore album, Irish Rock ’n’ Roll out today, October 13.
If every album an artist makes offers a snapshot of where they stand at that point, then the picture presented by Irish Rock ’n’ Roll is one of a band preparing to go stratospheric. It’s an album that manages to perfectly capture the chaos, humour and excitement of the band’s recent live shows while also showcasing the incredible emotional of the traditional ballads that they play (both in songs passed down from previous generations and – for the first time on this record – their own songs that promise to be passed down to future generations).
That was evident via the singles the band has shared as they teased the album. Earlier this week the band revealed “The Idler” (one of three original Mary Wallopers compositions found on the LP) and previous to that they dropped “Wexford,” “The Holy Ground,” and “The Blarney Stone,” the band’s full throttle version of the traditional folk song, made famous by singers like Tom Lenihan and Margaret Barry.
The Mary Wallopers are currently on tour in North America and they play New York City‘s Irving Plaza tomorrow night (October 14). The run concludes in San Diego on October 31 but first stops at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on October 30. The band’s live performances are renowned across the UK and Ireland for their raucous spirit, living up to their reputation as “The Clancy Brothers meets Dead Kennedys.”
ABOUT THE MARY WALLOPERS
The Mary Wallopers was released in the fall of 2020 to rave reviews. It was nominated for Irish Album of the Year alongside Dermot Kennedy and Fontaine DC and, filled with warmth, intimacy, and chaos,perfectly captured the band’s sound and ethos. The album is the culmination of several years of the Wallopers touring all corners of Ireland, collecting traditional songs before dusting them down and reimagining them in their Dundalk rehearsal space.
Brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna formed The
Mary Wallopers as a three-piece ballad group and their early live performances exuded a raw energy. They released their debut EP, A Mouthful of The Mary Wallopers, in 2019. The band expanded to a seven-piece that now includes Roisin Barret on bass, Brendan McInerney on drums, Seamas Hyland on accordion and Finian O’ Connor on tin whistle.
The Mary Wallopers Tour Dates
10/14 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10/15 – Boston, MA @ Middle East
10/18 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern SOLD OUT
10/20 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall
10/21 – Chicago, IL @ Martyrs
10/24 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore SOLD OUT
10/25 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
10/27 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
10/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
10/31 – San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at HOB
11/8 – Southampton, UK @ Engine Room SOLD OUT
11/9 – Bristol , UK @ Trinity SOLD OUT
11/10 – London, UK @ Forum Kentish Town SOLD OUT
11/11 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 SOLD OUT
11/12 – Cardiff, WL @ Tramshed
11/15 – Folkestone, UK @ Quarterhouse
11/16 – Oxford, UK @ The Bullingdon
11/17 – Brighton, UK @ CHALK SOLD OUT
11/18 – Liverpool, UK @ Academy Liverpool
11/19 – Norwich, UK @ Epic Studios
11/22 – Exeter, UK @ Phoenix SOLD OUT
11/24 – Northampton, UK @ Roadmender
11/25 – Sheffield, UK @ The Leadmill SOLD OUT
11/26 – Birmingham, UK @ Institute
12/7 – Dublin @ Vicar Street SOLD OUT
12/8 – Dublin @Vicar Street SOLD OUT
12/9 – Belfast @ The Telegraph Building SOLD OUT
12/10 – Derry St @ Columbs Hall
12/13 – Edinburgh, UK @ The Liquid Room SOLD OUT
12/14 – Dundee, SC @ Fat Sams SOLD OUT
12/15 – Aberdeen, SC @ Lemon Tree SOLD OUT
12/16 – Glasgow, SC @ Barrowland Ballroom SOLD OUT
12/20 – Galway, IE @ Leisureland
12/21 – Kilkenny, IE @ Langtons Ballroom SOLD OUT
12/22 – Limerick, IE @ Big Top SOLD OUT
12/23 – Cork, IE @ City Hall SOLD OUT
