Celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day with The High Kings at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee on Wednesday March 9th at 7 p.m. Known for tight harmonies and high energy musicianship, one of Irish music’s top bands serves up classic ballads, rousing pub tunes, original songs and audience sing-alongs that appeal to multiple generations.
Formed in 2007, each of the band members grew up in households steeped in the Irish musical tradition and each brings an impressive lineage to the group. Guitar and banjo player Finbarr Clancy toured the United States and Ireland in the 1990s with the Clancy Brothers. Guitarist and bodhrán player Brian Dunphy was with Riverdance for two years and then was a member of The Three Irish Tenors. Darren Holden plays the accordion, mandolin, guitar and keyboard and starred in Riverdance on Broadway for 18 months and then played Billy Joel in the musical Movin’ Out on Broadway and in international tours. A self-taught musician, Paul O’Brien plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, whistles, harmonica and bodhrán. He spent two years living and playing in Puerto Rico as a one-man band and then joined The High Kings in 2019.
Throughout their history, The High Kings have played to sell-out crowds in the United States, Ireland and Europe. They performed for President Obama during his visit to Ireland in 2012 and that same year performed at the White House St. Patrick’s Day celebration. In 2015 they played alongside the US Marine Corps Band at the Pentagon as guests of General Martin Demsey, then Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The High Kings self-titled debut album in 2008 reached number two on the Billboard World Music chart. Since then they have released four studio albums, two live albums, two live DVDs and a greatest hits collection. In early 2021 they released “Home from Home” recorded live in Dublin. With classic folk songs that have inspired them along the way, the 11 track album brings listeners on a journey to some of the places they call home when on tour.
“They know how to renovate the songs of days gone by and put their own twist on them. They saw a gap back in 2007 and it is fair to say they are well and truly filling it.” Daniel Bryan, “WorldPress.com.”
Formed in 2007, each of the band members grew up in households steeped in the Irish musical tradition and each brings an impressive lineage to the group. Guitar and banjo player Finbarr Clancy toured the United States and Ireland in the 1990s with the Clancy Brothers. Guitarist and bodhrán player Brian Dunphy was with Riverdance for two years and then was a member of The Three Irish Tenors. Darren Holden plays the accordion, mandolin, guitar and keyboard and starred in Riverdance on Broadway for 18 months and then played Billy Joel in the musical Movin’ Out on Broadway and in international tours. A self-taught musician, Paul O’Brien plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, whistles, harmonica and bodhrán. He spent two years living and playing in Puerto Rico as a one-man band and then joined The High Kings in 2019.
Throughout their history, The High Kings have played to sell-out crowds in the United States, Ireland and Europe. They performed for President Obama during his visit to Ireland in 2012 and that same year performed at the White House St. Patrick’s Day celebration. In 2015 they played alongside the US Marine Corps Band at the Pentagon as guests of General Martin Demsey, then Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The High Kings self-titled debut album in 2008 reached number two on the Billboard World Music chart. Since then they have released four studio albums, two live albums, two live DVDs and a greatest hits collection. In early 2021 they released “Home from Home” recorded live in Dublin. With classic folk songs that have inspired them along the way, the 11 track album brings listeners on a journey to some of the places they call home when on tour.
“They know how to renovate the songs of days gone by and put their own twist on them. They saw a gap back in 2007 and it is fair to say they are well and truly filling it.” Daniel Bryan, “WorldPress.com.”