Irish folk group the Mary Wallopers is touring behind its third album, Paddywhackery. A Guardian concert review describes a six-piece performance combining banjo, tin whistle and traditional stories with the intensity of a much rowdier live show.
The Dundalk band’s new material mixes political humour with fast-moving arrangements. Founding members Charles and Andrew Hendy also address criticism of the group’s strongly Irish identity, making that identity part of the presentation rather than something to soften.
The review focuses on the audience’s energetic response and the conversion of historical subjects into communal songs. Its praise is a critic’s assessment, while the larger tour and album give the band a new platform for the blend of traditional music and contemporary performance.
