The Mary Wallopers launch politically charged tour with high-energy Edinburgh show
The Mary Wallopers launched their biggest tour yet in Edinburgh, bringing a rowdy, politically charged take on Irish folk to a crowd that danced and crowd-surfed. Their performance showed how traditional music can still speak to the present, turning grim historical stories and contemporary politics into energetic communal songs.
The six-piece played new material from their third album, *Paddywhackery*, including “Seán na Sagart”, about an early 18th-century killer-for-hire, and “The Big Mixer”, which targets capitalism. More reflective performances included “Smuggling the Tin”, touching on Ireland’s border, and the original “Landlord’s Demise”; the show closed with the roughly 300-year-old jig “Frost Is All Over”. The UK and Ireland tour runs until 30 October.
- The Mary Wallopers began their biggest tour in Edinburgh.
- Their show mixed Irish folk, sharp humour and political themes.
- The tour supports their third album, *Paddywhackery*.
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The Mary Wallopers are a six-piece band from Ireland who draw on traditional folk songs and tunes, often performing them with a lively, communal feel. Irish folk music has long carried stories about work, poverty, conflict and everyday life, and performers continue to adapt those themes for modern audiences.
The band’s songs range from historical characters and events to present-day subjects such as capitalism and Ireland’s border. Their approach connects older musical traditions with current debates, while giving audiences a chance to encounter those subjects through songs rather than a news report.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “The Mary Wallopers review – legs and pints go flying to the sound of rowdy folk ragers”.