Site Map
Australia
Roaring Jack: Australian Celtic punk/Folk punk band of the 1980s and 1990s. Fronted by Alistair Hulett — disbanded in 1992 …
England
Louis Killen: Singer, archivist, lecturer, and historian — a mainstay of British folk music since the 1950s. One time memeber of the Clancy Brothers. Still active …
Ewan MacColl: (1915-1989) Folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and argubly one of the most important figures the British Folk Revial on the 1950's & 1960's.
Ireland
A
The Abbey Tavern Singers: Formed in 1962 at the Abbey Tavern in Howth, Dublin.
Aengus: Brothers Tony and Jackie Small from Galway and Dubliner Garry O'Briain.
Aileach: Formed in the late sixties — featuring Dinny McLaughlin, Bernard Heaney, Pat McCabe & Brian McRory. I believe the group still plays together on a part-time basis …
Davey Arthur: Donegal born multi-instrumentalist and singer, founding member of the Fureys and Davey Arthur. Currently performs with his own band and with the Fureys.
B
Bakerloo Junction: Northern Ireland Folk Group, formed in 1974 by Noel McMaster — the group is still active.
The Bards: Irish Folk group founded and led by Diarmuid O'Leary. Formed in the mid 1970's — the group is still active.
Barley Bree: North American based Folk band, formed in the North of Ireland in 1973. Longest serving members were P.V. O'Donnell and brothers Jimmy and Tom Sweeney. The group disbanded in 1995.
The Barleycorn: Formed in 1971, in the North of Ireland and reined for many years as the top rebel ballad group. Founding members: Paddy McGuigan, Liam Tiernan, Brian McCormick and John Delaney. The group disbanded in 1996.
The Battering Ram: Dubliners, Declan Hunt, Johnny Beggan & Seamus Walker, & Englishman, Clive Collins. The group disbanded …
Brendan Behan: (1923-1964) — Dublin born playwright and part-time ballad singer.
Dominic Behan: (1928-1989) — Dublin born influential Irish Singer & Songwriter. Younger brother of Brendan.
Blackthorn: Long running Irish Folk Band, based in Northern Ireland — the group is still active.
The Blarney Brothers: South African based Irish Band with Show Band veterans, Paul & Damien McIlroy and Tony Fisher. The group is still active.
The Blacksmiths: Short-lived Irish Folk Band, featuring renowned uilleann piper Paddy Keenan. The group disbanded …
The Buskers: Pre Fureys folk band with Paul & George Furey, Davey Arthur and Brendan Leeson. The group disbanded in the 1978 to form The Fureys & Davey Arthur…
Danny Burns: (1946-2002) — Greatly missed Belfast Folk musician, founding member of the Wolfhound.
Anne Byrne: Popular 1960's folk singer. Retired.
Brian Byrne: Former member of Emmett Spiceland.
C
The Cassidys: Dublin based Traditional family group, originally from County Donegal. The group is still active.
Cherish the Ladies: American based, all female, Irish Folk & Traditional band. The group is still active.
Chisel: Dublin Ballad group — Dermot Murphy, Stephen Sheridan and Brendan Savage. The group disbanded …
Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem: The "Originals"! The group disbanded … all 4 Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem are deceased.
Bobby Clancy: (1927-2002) — Long serving (non founding) member of the Clancy Brothers.
Liam Clancy: (1935-2009) — Revered Irish singer and … was the last surviving Clancy Brother.
Francie Conway: … still active
The Corrib Folk: Folk & Ballad formed in Belfast in 1972. The group disbanded …
Jimmy Crowley: Popular and highly respected Cork balladeer. Still performing …
D
Liam Devally: Irish singer and actor.
Danny Doyle: Popular Dublin balladeer, with many hit songs in his over 40 year career. Danny is not current performing, due to health issues …
Ronnie Drew: (1934-2008) — Beloved Irish Ballad singer, founding member of the Dubliners.
Drops Of Brandy: Late 70's - early 80's Irish Folk band. Disbanded …
Dublin City Ramblers: Long serving Dublin Ballad group, with several hit songs in the 1980's. Still performing …
The Dubliners: Legendary Irish Folk Band. Formed in 1962 and still going strong!
Pecker Dunne: Respected travelling musician. I believe Pecker Dunne is still performing …
E
Emmett Spiceland: Popular late 60's Irish Trio — line up included Dónal Lunny. Disbanded …
F
The Flanagan Brothers: "…the most popular group of Irish entertainers in New York City between the early 1920's and the late 1930's."
The Flingels: … current status, unknown
Freedom Fighters: … current status, unknown
The Freemen: 1970's Belfast Folk Group with Ray McAreavey, Kieron Manning, Jimmy McPeake, John McNally & Desi McHenry. Disbanded …
Finbar Furey: Singer, "Prince of the Pipers" and Fureys front man. Still performing …
Finbar & Eddie Furey: Popular brother duo. Disbanded in the 1978 to form The Fureys & Davey Arthur…
Ted Furey: (deceased) Fiddler and father of the Fureys.
The Fureys & Davey Arthur: Very popular Irish Band formed in 1980's. "The Green Fields of France" … Still performing!
G
The Glenfolk 4: Disbanded …
The Go Lucky Four: 1960's Irish Folk band — hit song: "Up Went Nelson". Disbanded …
H
Declan Hunt: Dublin singer, known for Irish Republican Music. Current status unknown …
I
The Irish Balladeers: Pennsylvania based American Irish Ballad Band. Still performing …
The Irish Brigade: Minnesota based Irish Folk Duo. Still performing …
Irish Mist: 1980's Folk Duo — Malcolm Rogers and Joe Giltrap. Disbanded …
The Irish Ramblers: The other Clancy Brothers. Still performing as The Clancy Tradition …
The Irish Rovers: Very popular, Canada based, Irish Band. Formed in 1964 — still performing …
J
The Jolly Beggarmen: Long serving Dublin Ballad Band. Current status unknown, I believe the group is no longer performing …
The Johnstons: Popular 1960's Irish Group. Intialally playing Irish Folk & Traditional, and later moving to "contemporary" Folk. Primary members were sisters Adrienne (d. 1981) & Lucy Johnston, Mick Moloney & Paul Brady. The group disbanded in 1973.
K
Luke Kelly: (1940-1984) — Revered Ballad Singer. Founding member of the Dubliners
Seamus Kennedy: Popular Belfast born Ballad Singer. Based in the USA since the 1970's — still performing …
L
The Leprechauns: Dave Monks still performs under the Leprechauns moniker …
Long Kesh Ramblers: Current status unknown …
The Ludlows: Popular 1960's Irish Ballad Trio — with Jim McCann. Disbanded in the late 1960's
M
Liam Maguire: US based Northern Ireland Ballad singer. Still performing …
Tommy Makem: (1932-2007) — Influential, Armagh born, Irish Ballad singer — "The Godfather" of Irish Music."
Makem & Clancy: Tommy & Liam!. Both are deceased …
Ray McAreavey: Respected Belfast Balladeer … lead singer the Wolfhound. Ray is still performing …
Jim McCann: Popular Dublin Ballad Singer. Former member of The Ludlows and The Dubliners. Jim is no longer performing, due to health issues..
Fee McGorman: Fee passed away in January, 2007
Men of No Property: Current status unknown …
Will Millar: Former front man and founding member of The Irish Rovers. Will is retired from performing.
The Moonshiners: Current status unknown …
Christy Moore: Legendary Irish Singer. Chirsty is still performing …
Noel Murphy: Popular Irish Ballad Singer, based in England for many years. Noel is retired from performing.
N
O
Robbie O'Connell: American based Irish singer. Nephew of the Clancy Brothers and group member for 19 years. Robbie is still performing …
P.V. O'Donell: Donegal Fiddler and founding member of Barley Bree. P.V. passed away on January 28, 2011 …
The Old Triangle: Popular Minnesota based Irish Folk trio. The group formally disbanded in the 1980's …
P
Patrick Street: Long running Irish "super group" with Andy Irvine, Kevin Burke, Jackie Daly, et al. The group is still performing … but Jackie Daly has retired.
The Pikemen: Follow up band to the Wolfhound, with Ray McAreavey, Kieran Manning & Gogie McCullough … the group disbanded …
Planxty: Ground breaking Irish Band — Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Liam O'Flynn & Andy Irvine. The group disbanded and reformed several times. Currently not performing as group, though all of the original members are still active …
Q
Quare Fellas: pre-Dublin City Ramblers Ballad Group. The group disbanded around 1970 …
R
Paddy Reilly: Very popular Dublin Ballad Singer. One-time member of the Dubliners. Paddy is retired from performing.
Ryan's Fancy: Influential, Northern Canada based, Irish Trio — Dermot O'Reilly and Fergus O'Bryne and Denis Ryan. The group disbanded in 1983, and Dermot O'Reilly passed away in 2007 …
S
Sons Of Erin: Long-running Canadian Irish Folk Group, led by Ralph O'Brien. The group still performs …
Jimmy Sweeney: Founding member of Barley Bree, nephew of Tommy Makem. Jimmy still performs …
Tom Sweeney: Long serving member of Barley Bree, brother of Jimmy Sweeney, and nephew of Tommy Makem. Tom is still performing …
W
Derek Warfield: Founder and former member of the Wolfe Tones. Still performing — see Young Wolfe Tones …
Patsy Watchorn: Dublin Balladeer. Founder and former lead singer of the Dublin City Ramblers and current member of the Dubliners.
The Wolfe Tones: Popular and long-running Dublin Ballad Band. Formed in 1964, still performing, without Derek Warfield …
The Wolfhound: Well-remembered Belfast Ballad Band. Disbanded in 1970's …
Y
The Young Wolfe Tones: Derek Warfield's currently performing band.
Scotland
B
Eric Bogle: Scottish born, Australian based singer and song writer. Still performing, but no longer touring outside of Australia and New Zealand …
C
Alex Campbell: (1925-1987) "Big Daddy" of Scotland Folk … a legendary performer!
Ian Campbell Folk Group: Popular 1960's Birmingham Folk group … Formed in the late 1950's by Ian Campbell — disbanded in the late 1970's.
The Corrie Folk Trio: Per-curser to Corries. Formed in Edinburgh in the early 1960's by Bill Smith with Roy Williamson (1936-1990), Ronnie Browne and Paddie Bell (1931-2005). Disbanded in 1966 …
The Corries: The duo was formed in 1966 with Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne. The group disbanded in 1990 with the death of Roy Williamson. Ronnie Browne continued to perform (solo) until his retirement in 2002.
D
Ian Davison: Prolific Glasgow song writer and singer.
Nigel Denver: Popular 1960's Scottish Folk singer and activist. Mostly retired …
E
The Exiles: Respected Scottish Folk Trio of Gordon McCulloch, Enoch Kent and Bobby Campbell (deceased). Group disbanded in the 1960's …
F
G
Gaberlunzie: Popular and long-running Scottish Folk duo. Formed in the late 60's by Gordon Menzies and Robin Watson. Gordon and Robin are still performing …
Glesca Eskimos: 1960's collective of Scottish folk singers and political activists …
H
Robin Hall: (1936-1998) Popular and very talented Scottish Folk singer …
Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor: Very popular Scottish Folk Duo. Formed in 1959 and disbanded in 1981 …
Alistair Hulett: (1951-2010) Highly respected Scottish folk singer, song writer and activist.
I
Hamish Imlach: (1940-1996) Scottish folk singer. A popular mainstay from the early 60's until his death …
The Islanders: 1960's - 70's Scottish folk group. To my knowledge, long since disbanded …
J
Arthur Johnstone: Influential Scottish Folk singer … founding member of the Laggan. Still performing …
K
Nick Keir: Fine Scottish folk singer, song writer, musician & actor. Former member of the McCalmans — still performing …
Enoch Kent: Respected Scottish folk singer from the very early days of the Scottish Folk Revival — still performing …
Danny Kyle: (1940-1998) Popular Scottish Folk singer.
L
The Laggan: 1970's Scottish Folk group — current status unknown …
M
Jimmie Macgregor: Popular Scottish Folk singer, musician and broadcaster — still a very active man …
Iain MacKintosh: (1932-2006) "The quiet man of Scottish Folk". Singer and banjo player with a very loyal international following …
Josh MacRae: (deceased) Well-remembered and highly respected Scottish folk singer and activist.
Ian McCalman: Founding member and former front man of the McCalmans. Singer, song writer, wit and record producer. Ian retired from peforming in December 2010 …
The McCalmans: Long running Edinburgh Folk Trio. Five members through their 45-year career. Founders Ian McCalman, Hamish Bayne and Derek Moffat (1947-2001), and Nick Keir & Stephen Quigg. Disbanded with the retirement of Ian McCalman at the end of 2010.
Matt McGinn: (1928-1977) Legendary figure in the Scottish Folk Revival. Prolifical song writer, wit and "singer" …
Adam McNaughtan: Former Glasgow school teacher, song writer and singer. Still active on the Scottish Folk Scene …
Ewan McVicar: Scottish song writer and singer. Mainstay on the Folk Scene since the 1970's …
N
Watt Nicoll: Popular Dundee singer, song writer and wit in 1960's-70's. Currently a motivational speaking "guru" …
North Sea Gas: Long-running Scottish Folk group founded in 1979 by Dave Gilfillan. Still performing, with Gilfillan a mainstay throughout …
Q
Stephen Quigg: Talented Scottish folk singer and former member of the McCalmans. Still performing solo and as a duo with Nick Keir.
S
Silly Wizard: Ground-breaking, respected, popular, and still well-remembered Scottish Folk Group. Members included Andy M. Stewart and Johnny & Phil Cunningham. Founded in 1971 and disbanded in the late 1980's …
Andy M. Stewart: Former Silly Wizard lead singer. Prolific song writer, and popular performer. Still touring — most of the time with Irish guitarist & singer Gerry O'Beirne …
T
The Tannahill Weavers: Long-running, well-travel and very popular Scottish band. Formed in 1968 and still maintain a very heavy International tour schedule — with long time members Roy Gullane and Phil Smillie …
Wales
Dave Burns: Founding member of Cardiff Ballad Group, the Hennessys, and Traditional Welsh band Ar Log. Dave is still a member on The Hennessys.
Frank Hennessy: Popular Cardiff singer, songwriter and broadcaster. Leader of The Hennessys. Still performing …
The Hennessys: Popular and long-running Cardiff Ballad Group. Formed in the late 1960's — still performing …
…and the rest
20 Questions with George Millar: Interview with founding, and only remaining original, member of the Irish Rovers.
Bill Smith Q & A: Interview with founder of the Corrie Folk Trio …
Eskimo Republic Glasgow: Information and discographies on the singers and musicians that took part in the mid 1990's Edinburgh Festival performance …
Festival & Anthology recordings: A potpourri of anthology and compilation recordings with performers featured on this site …
Irish Republican Music: A sample of recordings through the years …
More Irish Folk: A sample of Irish performers and bands with limited recordings …
More Scottish Folk: A sample of Scottish performers and bands with limited recordings …
Song Lyrics A-M: Irish, Scottish, etc.
Song Lyrics N-Z: Irish, Scottish, etc.