The Wolfe Tones are set to play Electric Picnic this August and perform their final ever London show on 5 July in Finsbury Park. We asked Brian Warfield of the band the BIG questions . . .
The band performed a secret gig at Irish pub The Faltering Fullback in Finsbury last Sunday night and among the audience were Irish comedian Aisling Bea and Fontaines D.C.
They played a selection of classics and fan favourites, such as Come Out Ye Black & Tans and My Heart Is In Ireland, and debuted a new song, a tribute to their loyal fans as they commence their farewell tour.
The Wolfe Tones will be joined by The Undertones, The Sharon Shannon Big Band, The Scratch and Brògeal for their Finsbury Park show.
Speaking about the gig, Brian says: "The Irish diaspora across the world have always been massive supporters of The Wolfe Tones, and no greater support was had than from the Irish in Britain!
"I wrote My Heart Is In Ireland as a tribute to the Irish in England, Scotland and Wales. The London Irish hold a very special place in our hearts, there are too many shows to mention but the great nights in The National in Kilburn will never be forgotten.
"It is most fitting that The Wolfe Tones 60th Anniversary Concert will be our final London performance. It will also be our largest ever in the UK, with a headline set in Finsbury Park!
"We promise to make it a very special experience for what we hope will be a massive attendance as we say farewell to London - let the people sing!"
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I have a fascination with Irish history and I have a huge library of historical books. I have always loved Irish songs and ballads; they tell the story and history of our country from the people's perspective. I am a songwriter and have written over two hundred songs, each with new melodies. I’m now in the process of putting a musical together and hopefully will bring it to the world stage.
How would you describe your music?
Very much in the Irish ballad tradition with a focus on our rich history's fables and stories.
Who are your musical inspirations?
There were many performers who inspired me. Pete Seeger influenced me when, as a member of Young Ireland Folk Society, we were asked to sing the chorus of his songs with him on his tour of Ireland. His ability to move an audience and his banjo playing amazed me, so after that concert, I decided to purchase a five-string banjo and bring it into the Irish music scene. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem also inspired me and their huge success in America opened the door for many Irish singers and musicians thereafter.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The first was Brenda Lee at the National Stadium, Dublin, in 1963. I went to many other concerts after that but my love of Irish music won out and I left the pop world behind
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think it was one of Brendan O’Dowda songs Percy French, I loved him singing.
What’s your favourite song right now?
Bohemian Rhapsody is a classic but one of my own songs is right up there, The Soldier’s Return, written from the perspective of an Irish soldier returning home following the First World War and the dramatic changes he found in Ireland upon his return. I love it.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"And you dare to call me a terrorist while you look down your gun" - from The Ballad of Joe Mc Donnell. This song still fascinates me how I got his story so right. I wrote it in a couple of hours on the morning Joe McDonnell, the fifth hunger striker, died in 1981. I later met Joe’s wife, Goretti, to see if the family approved of it before it was released. Goretti came back to me a week later and said they loved it. Goretti then asked, how did you know so much about him - you got his story so right? I said I didn’t know much about him at the time, maybe Joe was with me in spirit at the time I was writing it. To this day it still fascinates me.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A Nation Once Again, without a doubt! It was voted the number one song of the Millennium by listeners of the BBC as sung by The Wolfe Tones, a song that has stood the test of time, it’s evergreen!
Where can people find your music/more information?
Here.
Alan Corr
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