The Mary Wallopers are bringing a little Irish chaos back Down Under

There's something about Irish folk music when it's played with a bit of fire in the belly.

Give it a few fiddles, a driving rhythm, a room full of people singing at the top of their lungs and just enough attitude to upset the establishment, and you've got the makings of a pretty good night out. The Mary Wallopers understand that better than most, and they're heading back to Australia in May 2027 with their biggest tour yet, a new album and absolutely no intention of behaving themselves.

If you've ever wondered what happens when traditional Irish folk music collides with the energy of punk rock, a healthy distrust of authority and the atmosphere of a packed pub on a Saturday night, The Mary Wallopers might be your answer. The six-piece from Dundalk have spent the past few years turning centuries-old songs and working-class stories into something that feels wonderfully alive, proving that folk music doesn't have to be polite, precious or confined to the history books.

Led by brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy, the band have built their reputation on the sort of live performances that leave audiences sweaty, hoarse and probably wondering what just happened. There's humour, anger, drinking songs, political commentary and plenty of opportunities to join in, all delivered with an infectious energy that owes as much to the rebellious spirit of punk as it does to Ireland's long musical traditions.

And while plenty of bands have tried mixing folk and punk over the years, The Mary Wallopers have managed to find their own way of doing it. They aren't simply dressing up old songs with louder instruments. There's a genuine connection to the stories behind the music, particularly those about ordinary people, hardship, injustice and the sometimes ridiculous business of getting through life.

The arrangements might be rough around the edges, but that's part of the appeal. This is music that feels like it belongs in a room full of people rather than sitting quietly behind glass in a museum.

Their new album, Paddywhackery, takes that approach a little further. Produced by James Skelly of The Coral, the record broadens the band's sound while keeping the humour, social commentary and rough-and-ready spirit that brought them to everyone's attention in the first place. It's a record that moves between traditional influences and more contemporary sounds without worrying too much about where one ends and the other begins.

Take ‘Kit Kat Club’, which comes charging out with a guitar riff that sounds like rockabilly has wandered into an Irish pub and decided to stay for the night. It's a suitably chaotic tale of a drinking adventure that takes a turn for the worse, while ‘Crowns Of England’ finds the band sharpening their political edge. There's plenty of mischief in the music, but beneath the jokes and rowdy choruses, The Mary Wallopers have always had something to say

That becomes particularly clear on the new single ‘The Big Mixer’, a song dedicated to the people who keep the world moving while somebody else collects the profits. The band describe it as a song for labourers, nurses, shelf fillers, train drivers, truck drivers, delivery riders, miners, factory workers and everyone else putting in a hard day's work.

It's the sort of subject that has been at the heart of folk music for generations. Long before anyone thought to call it protest music, people were writing songs about the conditions they worked under, the people who held the power and the everyday struggles of making a living. The Mary Wallopers are simply carrying that tradition forward, only with a little more volume and the occasional well-aimed insult.

There's a connection here to the spirit of bands like The Pogues, who showed that traditional Irish music could sit comfortably alongside punk attitude without losing its identity. But The Mary Wallopers aren't interested in being anybody's tribute act. Their music comes from their own experiences, their own sense of humour and a determination to make the old traditions relevant to the world they're living in.

And people are responding. Over the past year, the band have continued to build an international following, playing major festivals including Electric Picnic and filling venues across Ireland, the UK, Europe and North America. Their music has attracted support from BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, RTÉ and Today FM, while television appearances on Later... with Jools Holland and The Late Show, along with a placement in Netflix's House of Guinness, have introduced them to an even wider audience.

But for all the streams, television appearances and growing international attention, their reputation has largely been built the old-fashioned way — getting out on the road and playing in front of people. There's something reassuring about that in an age when a band's success can sometimes seem to depend more on algorithms than what happens when the lights go down and the music starts.

The current line-up of Charles Hendy, Andrew Hendy, Ken Mooney, Róisín Barrett, Finnian O'Connor and Catriona Gribben has developed into a formidable live outfit, and the touring schedule suggests they aren't planning on slowing down. Following a run of shows across Scotland, England and Wales, the band will finish the year with arena performances in Dublin and Glasgow before heading to North America for an extensive 21-date tour next March.

Then it's our turn. The Paddywhackery tour arrives in May 2027, beginning with the band's first-ever New Zealand appearance at Christchurch's James Hay Theatre on 15 May, before crossing the Tasman for shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It's their biggest visit to this part of the world yet, and a chance for Australian audiences to experience a band whose music makes a lot more sense when you're standing in the middle of a crowd singing along

There's always been a strong connection between Irish music and Australian audiences. Maybe it's our shared appreciation for a good pub, a good story and a healthy suspicion of anyone who takes themselves too seriously. Or perhaps it's simply that songs about working people, hard times, friendship and having a few drinks after a long week tend to travel pretty well.

Whatever the reason, The Mary Wallopers seem particularly well suited to Australian stages. They're loud, funny, occasionally confronting and completely committed to the music they're making. They understand that a great live show can be entertaining and still have something important to say, and that sometimes the best way to get a message across is to make sure everyone is having a good time while they're listening.

Folk music has always belonged to the people, and The Mary Wallopers are doing their bit to keep it that way. Just don't expect them to play quietly.

The Mary Wallopers bring their Paddywhackery tour to Christchurch, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in May 2027.