Over the past 12 years The High Kings have released 4 studio albums, 2 live albums and 2 DVDs. And you can put your own little stamp on it, but you dont want to remove the sentiment of the song and what it is about. Following Riverdance he joined The Three Irish Tenors and enjoyed huge success stateside, and Europe beckoned next as he took on a role performing as his father in a tribute to the Irish Show-Band stars of yesteryear, Dance Hall Qs And Hucklebuck Shoes. Memory Lane was released in February 2010 and after a successful Irish tour the album went platinum in June only 4 months after its initial release. Paul comes from a very musical background, getting his love of music from listening to his dad who played the drums in the Rathdowney Cil band. Since the inception of the group, it has toured Ireland, the United States, and Europe on several occasions. They flew directly from London where they had already been the headline act for the Lord Mayor of Londons St. Patricks Day concert. Despite having such a full schedule, Darren finds time to help out many worthy charities and frequently uses his talents to help others raise funds. Then they want to link onto heritage as well if their Grandparents or Great Grandparents are from Ireland, they have that link through music there isnt really any other outlet they can but through the music, they can. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Irish Rugby anthem Irelands Call the band were asked by the original composer Phil Coulter to record their own version which was subsequently included in the TV3 documentary. It takes you in at the start and keeps you until the very, very end and beyond., Others have had a different song to add as Finbarr Clancy said: I think the Boston Rose is good too, there are great harmonies in that, Brian Dunphy said, Yeah thats good too, Liam Reilly again., The High Kings performing in Vicar Street, Dublin, While touring and recording albums there is bound to plenty of gaffs or funny moments - so Brian Dunphy had this story to tell: Hahaha, my moment was being dragged off the stage, right here in Vicar Street, Darren interjects no, you threw yourself off the stage, you being pulled off is debatable, Dunphy continues, No she definitely pulled me off the stage, she did have a few drinks on her she didnt do it for any other reason - that has to be one of the funniest moments., Darren: There has just been so many though - but that has to top it. Finbarr explains what happened: So, we came out on stage, and this woman was shouting Brian! Where/ How Tickets Can be Purchased: The band will undertake their most extensive Tour of the US in 2016 with almost 50 shows confirmed. Memory Lane was released in February 2010 and after a successful Irish tour the album went platinum in June only 4 months after its initial release. And its well set up, so we go over there quite a bit and its great.. In 2015 The High Kings were invited to the Pentagon as guests of General Martin Dempsey, who is the Chairman of the The Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2016 the band performed at RT's Centenary Concert to mark the 100-year anniversary of Ireland's Easter Rising. Pauls father also played Bodhrn and spoons and his musicality passed itself down a generation. They spoke to me on Sunday evening before their Dublin show and the very next night they were awarded the most successful Irish folk band worldwide by the Sunday World. The Academy will hold all shows at full capacity. So far it has lead him to great accomplishments and also to meeting his wife Ann, with whom he appeared in a stage version of Rocky Horror Picture show. People loved what they were doing; bringing a new take on traditional Irish ballads to audiences of multiple generations. In September 2017 the band announced that Martin Furey would be retiring from The High Kings, and that an announcement would be made later regarding his replacement. Throughout his already very successful career, Brian has had the honour of recording with many artists including world renowned violinist Vanessa Mae, Celtic Woman, Bill Whelans Riverdance-On Broadway and Riverdance The 10th Anniversary. In 2013 the band licensed their forthcoming album 'Friends for Life to Sony Worldwide, another indication of their global appeal. If you change everything about it, then it is no longer what it is meant to be about, if you stray too far. Friends For Life featured 8 original songs written and composed by the band and was released in 2013. Service fees always apply with purchase. The High Kings continue to set the bar extremely high for Irish Folk bands across the world and are widely regarded to be at the forefront of the genre. [4], On 12 March 2013 The High Kings announced a forthcoming third studio album produced by Sharon Shannon and John Dunford, consisting of eight original songs and a selection of classic ballads. sign up to our newsletter for exclusive promotions and event invitations. Originally from Mooncoin County Kilkenny, he is comfortable performing all genres of music from Pop and Jazz to Country and Celtic. The High Kings performing in 2012 in Waterford, Ireland. The rest of 2016 and early 2017 was spent extensively touring the new album. $25 - $45 + taxes & fees. He had numerous chart hits with such songs as After Tonight and More Than I Can Say. His debut solo album, Suddenly produced three top 20 hits. The music of the Clancys was integral to Finbarrs musical education and he hopes to continue this strong ballad tradition with The High Kings. A top ten recording artist in Ireland, Darren toured with Boyzone on their first major tour of Ireland and the UK . In 2012 they performed for President Obama in Moneygall, this led to a personal invitation from the president to perform at the 2012 White House St. Patricks day celebration. Although they sing mostly traditional Irish songs, they are also known to sing arrangements of songs from other genres. Brian is never fazed by the wise-cracking comments thrown at him from a sometimes raucous audience member. In 2017 they released a compilation album Decade which celebrated 10 amazingly successful years together and also included 5 brand new recordings. I think there is 85 million Irish around the world.. November 2014 marked another milestone for the band when they recorded Four Friends Live at the Millennium Forum in Derry which was their first joint CD/DVD and the first live DVD recording since the debut DVD 'Live in Dublin' in 2008. Copyright 2023 Irish Studio LLC All rights reserved. There are loads of decedents Irish-Americans, who are right into their culture. Finbarr Clancy added: Probably Whiskey in the Jar or something like that, Brian Dunphy suggests The Rocky Road to Dublin and Darren Holden adds, Yeah, its got the beats for kids and the funny thing is at some of our shows you see the little kids coming along and they know some of our songs, which you wouldnt expect them to know at all. He typically plays the bodhrn and guitar with the group. Following the passing of his uncle Paddy and later his father, Bobby in 2002. It is a tough trick to do and not to venture away from the meaning of the song., Read more:Bringing old and new together this Kerry singer is making waves. To purchase by phone, Darren relished the opportunity to join The High Kings, and reach a new audience, singing the songs he had learnt as a child. Although Brian loves touring, he loves his family life as well and sees no conflict between selling out to a 1000 strong crowd one night and serving up weetabix to his five year old son Sam the next morning, as he feels both roles, Performer and Father are a good fit for him. Spring 2023 Tour Dates Added. Many fans became regular faces as they effectively followed the band on their sold out tours many crossing oceans and borders through-out the world just to see their favourite band perform live. Box Office Hours: 3pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday Irish folk band The High Kings have opened up on why they think theyre successful in Ireland and further abroad - no other band can renovate Irish music like them, but they do admit it is a very fine line of pulling it off. His CD of original traditional/contemporary Country songs, Live & Learn, released in 2002 in the US, produced three top 40 airplay hits and Darren was nominated for a 2004 New Music Weekly Award (Best Male Country Artist). Brian was born in Dublin. paul@paulobrien.ca But definitely, that as the older generation would know that., Keep up-to-date with music news on IrishCentral. They are about to tour in the States, their biggest one yet starting on the 16th of February and lasting to 23rd of May. The High Kings formed in June 2007 when Brian, Darren, Finbarr and former member Martin Furey were asked to join a brand-new Irish ballad group by David Kavanagh after he had noticed a gap in the market for a band specialising in traditional Irish music. Brian Dunphy mentions, his father Sean Dunphy - who managed to get Ireland to number two in the Eurovision 1967 just behind the UK - Brian adds: Here is an interesting one I got to record one song as a duet with my dad and not a lot of people have heard it. Holden has also released three successful solo albums. In 2013 the band licensed their forthcoming album Friends For Life to Sony Worldwide another indication of their global appeal. Speaking about the success in America and the rest of the world, Finbarr Clancy, said: We have been touring America since we started as a band, were coming onto our 14th year now. In 2017 they released a compilation album Decade which celebrated 10 amazingly successful years together and also included 5 brand new recordings. And the lyrics came on our way to the JFK airport, as we had just finished a two-month tour of America and we were all on our way to go home and couldnt wait to be back with our families. In 2011, the High Kings toured the US again, playing in Chicago, Albany, New Haven, Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta to promote their new album release "Memory Lane," which eventually reached the third spot on Billboard's Top World Albums chart. As part of this group, Finbarr appeared in the Clancy Brothers' filmed Farewell to Ireland performance in 1996, which has since been released on DVD. In late December, the High Kings began their Grace & Glory tour. Being of a gregarious nature, he enjoys immensely meeting fans of The High Kings after a show and hearing their stories. The High Kings. Brian, I love you can I get a hug? she said, so Brian went down and when he gave her a hug, she got him by the neck, and his legs were dangling as he came off the stage. To become an IrishCentral contributor click here. "Hand Me Down My Bible" was released as a single in July 2016 and quickly became played on many radio stations in Ireland to much acclaim. Dunphy had also been a member of the band Druid. The High Kings formed in June 2007 when Brian, Darren, Finbarr and former member Martin Furey were asked to join a brand new Irish ballad group by David Kavanagh after he had noticed a gap in the market for a band specialising in traditional Irish music. As we tried to pull him back it was like a tug of war!. Darren Holden starred in Riverdance: The Show on Broadway for eighteen months. He has gigged around many pubs and local venues in Ireland and also spent 2 years living and gigging in Puerto Rico in Gran Canaria as a one man band ! The idea behind this album was to bring our fans on a journey across the world, to some of the places we call home when we tour, via some of the classic folk songs that have inspired us along the way., Show Date/Time: But I wouldve loved to have done a full album with him., Read more:Craic Fest, for the best of Irish film and music in New York City. The worst part is some of them sing Whiskey in the Jar - its probably the only country in the world you can get kids to sing about loving whiskey and get away with it!, Brian Dunphy continues on: Its really whatever youre brought up with.. This was confirmed when their self-titled debut album reached number 2 on the world Billboard Music chart.