The High Kings

The High Kings, the true heirs of Ireland’s Folk Heritage, have spent 15 years at the top of their game, selling out venues around the world to an ever-growing army of loyal fans.

Widely regarded as the standard-bearer for their genre, they have charted across the world and performed for hundreds of thousands of fans, as well as in many prestigious situations including for George W Bush (2009 at the White House and 2015 at The Pentagon), Prime Minister of England David Cameron (2011), and Barack Obama (2012), alongside notable performances at Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight Festival (3 times – headlining in 2015), Time Square and headlining the St Patrick’s Day concert in Trafalgar Square London (2015).

Finbarr Clancy, Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy and newest member Paul O’ Brien make up the band and play 13 instruments between them, creating a unique sound and atmosphere in the folk idiom and re-energising great Irish ballads. They have had great success over the years, including Best Folk Act at Ireland’s Music Awards. Their reputation has grown tremendously, particularly in the US and Ireland.

That The High Kings are charting a new course for Irish ballad music – equal parts rousing and reflective, energetic and insightful – is an understatement. They are, essentially, marking out a new and bright era for Irish folk music.