Two of the biggest names in Celtic punk have joined forces for one of the most logical co-headlining tours imaginable. The bands, who are both celebrating “over 20 years of mayhem,” will bring their Irish-tinged punk sound to a variety of venues over the summer.
Dropkick Murphys were founded back in 1996 in Quincy, MA just outside of Boston. The band steadily built up a cult following both in and around their Northeastern hometown as well as across the country. The Gang’s All Here, Blackout and The Warrior’s Code are among the albums that they released in the early part of their careers on Hellcat Records, a subsidiary of seminal punk label Epitaph. The third of those albums featured the song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” a song that was prominently featured in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece The Departed and found the band even wider audiences.
The group, led by vocalist Al Barr and bassist/singer/songwriter Ken Casey, most recently released their ninth studio album 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory in 2017. It was their first album in four years and was released on their own Born & Bread record label.
Flogging Molly meanwhile, were formed on the opposite end of the country in Los Angeles. The band released several records on local punk label SideOneDummy before moving on to their own label Borstal Beat Records and later, Spinefarm. The group is led by Irish singer Dave King and they most recently released an album in 2017. That record, Life Is Good, was the band’s first in six years.
UPDATE (6/25): The two Celtic punks bands are going to stay out on the road together further in 2018, as Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly have announced additional dates. The second leg starts in mid-September an
Dropkick Murphys & Flogging Molly Summer 2018 Tour Dates
06/01 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
06/02 – Big Flats, NY – Tag’s Summer Stage
06/03 – Cincinnati, OH – Bunbury Festival*
06/05 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theater
06/07 – Bonner Springs, KS (Kansas City) – Providence Medical Center Amphitheater
06/08 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
06/09 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino
06/10 – Denver, CO – Fox Street Compound
06/12 – Sauget, IL (St. Louis) – Pop’s Nightclub & Concert Venue
06/13 – Columbus, OH – Express Live!
06/15 – Montebello, QC – Montebello Rockfest**
06/16 – East Providence, RI – Bold Point Park
06/17 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summerstage
06/18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
06/19 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
06/21 – Philadelphia, PA – Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing
06/22 – Forest Hills, NY – Forest Hills Stadium
06/23 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Monday, September 17
Edmonton, AB
Shaw Conference Center *
Tuesday, September 18
Grand Prairie, AB
Revolution Place *
Thursday, September 20
Vancouver, BC
PNE Forum *
Friday, September 21
Eugene, OR
Cuthbert Amphitheater *
Saturday, September 22
Seattle, WA
WaMu Theater *
Sunday, September 23
Bonner, MT
KettleHouse Amphitheater *
Tuesday, September 25
Sacramento, CA
Papa Murphy’s Park at Cal Expo +
Wednesday, September 26
Avila Beach, CA
Avila Beach Resort +
Thursday, September 27
San Francisco, CA
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium *
Friday, September 28
Irvine, CA
Five Point Amphitheatre +
Saturday, September 29
Mesa, AZ
Mesa Amphitheatre +
*Festival date (Dropkick Murphys only)
**Festival date (Dropkick Murphys & Flogging Molly)
Photo Credit: Pamela Lin
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