The Thekla, December 14th 2022
“The Mary Wallopers’ trademark charm and irreverence is matched only by their staggering talent” Hotpress
“Full-pelt rattle-and-sneers through traditional Irish songs that can’t help but summon the spirit of The Poques – although who knows what else might be sneaking in around the sides” Mojo
“The Mary Wallopers invokes the raucous ghosts of the Dubliners and the Pogues to startling effect” The Guardian
“Best of all was a mischievously brilliant set from Irish band The Mary Wallopers, whose open and gleeful contempt for the audience seems to go by almost entirely unnoticed” The Independent (at Wilderness Festival)
The Mary Wallopers – brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna – started as a three-piece Irish ballad group traveling the length and breadth of the country singing & collecting songs. Their early live performances exuded a raw energy best described as Dead Kennedys meets The Clancy Brothers, and their first five track EP – 2019’s A Mouthful of The Mary Wallopers – perfectly captured their sound and ethos, one filled with warmth, intimacy, chaos and enough sparks ready to light any fire.
When COVID decimated the music industry and canceled all live music, the first band out of the blocks were The Mary Wallopers. Unfazed by the global shutdown, the three Dundalk men built a pub/studio in their house to connect with their fans again. On St. Patrick’s Day 2020 they became one of the first bands in the world to host a livestream.
Although there were countless attempts to get live-streaming right during the pandemic, very few matched the Wallopers efforts. Armed with a DIY attitude, they performed live in their homemade clubhouse, creating broadcasts that felt like Wayne’s World sound tracked entirely by Irish ballads. The show brought some much needed joy to the 40,000 people who tuned in live. As the streams continued, their audiences both home and abroad grew, allowing them to book their first UK headline tour.
To capture the chaotic energy of the livestream, the Wallopers expanded to a seven- piece, including Roisin Barret on bass, Brendan Mclnerney on drums, Seamas Hyland on accordion and Finian O’ Connor on tin whistle. When lockdown restrictions lifted, the band picked up where they left off, playing to ecstatic audiences of 1500 people a night at two sold out gigs at the prestigious Vicar Street in Dublin before blazing a trail through the UK, ending up with a raucous sold out date at the Powerhaus in Camden.
With their debut album OUT NOW and a massive tour of Ireland/UK and Europe, The Mary Wallopers are taking their unique and joyous vision of the historic
@thebristolnomad / @bristolnomad_gigphotography
Role: Photographer / Reviewer / Interviewer
Chief, the one that bugs the team for team for their reviews and images. Creator and founder of The Bristol Gig Guide. Can usually be found swamped in admin or getting cramp kneeling at the front of a gig.
Available for: Gig Shoots, Gig Reviews, Photo Shoots, Album and Single cover shoots, Videography work, Interviews and Touring
First attended gig: Republica, circa 1996.
First gig shot: Hands Off Gretel, at The Louisiana!
Dream gig: Huge metalhead and my ultimate dream gig would be shooting my heroes Slipknot at a huge stadium gig, or as festival headliners. And to experience shooting a headline tour outside the UK
