Skipper's Alley

Skippers 5Skipper’s Alley are a modern Irish folk band with an old-school approach. Their influences range from folk revival bands such as Planxty and The Bothy Band to rare, experimental solo players like Tommie Potts and Séamus Ennis.

Once described as "a young Irish ensemble who look like a punk band and sound like The Chieftains” Skipper’s Alley specialise in gritty, high-octane Irish dance tunes on Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Fiddle, Bodhrán, Bouzouki, Flute and Harp, with occasional detours into the dark, sombre melodies of the Irish song tradition.

Since forming in 2013 Skipper’s Alley have garnered wide critical praise, appeared on national and international TV, and toured on four continents. Write-ups include The Irish Times (★★★★), The Living Tradition, Folk Radio UK, Folk World, and Celtic Music Radio (★★★★★). TV appearances include S4C’s ‘Lorient’ as well as RTÉs ‘Fleadh!’ and The Late Late Show. Festival appearances include Electric Picnic (Ireland), Festival Interceltique de Lorient (France), The Stan Rogers Folk Festival (Canada), Spring Fest (India) and The Dayton Ohio Irish Fest (USA).

In 2014, Skipper’s Alley’s released their self-titled debut album under the production of Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, The Waterboys, Sharron Shannon). To date the record has received wide critical acclaim and sold out several repressings.

Skipper’s Alley are currently touring regularly in North America and are hard at work on a second album.