‘A raucous power… not seen since the heyday of The Pogues’ – Uncut 

‘Odes to sex, devilry and drink for a new generation’ – The Guardian 

‘The punk spirit of Irish traditional music... impossible to shake off’ – MOJO

With infectious energy and floor shaking singalongs, Irish seven-piece The Mary Wallopers are a live act to be reckoned with. Frontier Touring is proud today to reveal the band will make their Australian live debut in May 2024, announcing five huge shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. 

Currently wrapping up a sold-out tour across Europe, USA, the UK and a home (where their infamous live shows sell out 1,500+ rooms), the Wallopers’ AU visit follows the release of their hugely acclaimed second album, Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll – listen here. 

‘People of Australia! Brace yourselves because we are coming to play you all our smelly little songs and complain about the heat. Can’t wait to see yee in May xoxoxo’ – The Mary Wallopers 

Formed by multi-instrumentalist Charles Hendy, his brother Andrew (banjo), and friend Sean McKenna (guitar), the Dundalk-based outfit were on their way to success with their raucous reinterpretations of traditional ballads before the world went into lockdown in March 2020. Propelled to fame by at home livestreams, the Wallopers emerged a seven-piece – with members Seamas Hyland (accordion), Finian O’Connor (pipes/whistles), Roisin Barrett (bass), Ken Mooney (drums) – and a new album in Irish Rock ’n’ Roll… a document of a band preparing to go stratospheric. 

‘One of the most defiant yet inherently honest forces in modern Irish music’ – Hot Press 

‘Revitalising Irish trad for a new generation with rowdy reinterpretations of hand-me-down odes to sex, devilry and drink (mainly drink)… they elevate the displaced and the downtrodden, sticking two fingers up to the establishment and, in doing so, yank a thread that unites all rebel music from folk to punk and rap’ – The Guardian 

Busy bridging generations with their dark Irish punk folk, Irish Rock ’n’ Roll won high praise from Mojo (4/5), Uncut (8/10), Clash (8/10), Hot Press (9/10) and more. It perfectly capture the chaos, humour and excitement of the Wallopers’ live, whilst 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).  

Tickets to all shows will go on sale Friday 1 December (12pm local time) via frontiertouring.com/themarywallopers. Frontier Members presale starts Thursday 30 November (10am local time) – see website for details. 

“Moshing, Guinness and great Irish folk” reckons The Times (UK): don’t miss the incredible The Mary Wallopers when they land down under in Australia next May!