The High Kings perform in Cincinnati on Friday, March 4 at 8pm at the Music Hall Ballroom. Tickets: $30 available online at cincinnatiarts.org by calling 513-621-2787
New York, NY (February 8, 2011) — The High Kings, those handsome young Irishmen of great musical lineage whose vibrant take on rock and folk drew attention to their self-titled 2008 debut, return to the US in March with a new album and tour. Memory Lane (due March 8th on Ard Ri Entertainment/EMI Music) arrives on our shores just in time for Irish celebrations with a four week concert tour that kicks off March 1 in Milwaukee and brings the quartet to 25 cities across the Midwest and East Coast.
Much like their music, the members of The High Kings are made up of equal parts pop and traditional backgrounds. Darren Holden starred in over 1000 performances of Billy Joel’s production, ‘Movin’ Out’, and toured as part of Joel’s own band; Finbarr Clancy is a scion of Irish music’s legendary Clancy family; Martin Furey is the son of the ‘prince of pipers’ Finbar Furey; and Brian Dunphy is the son of showband legend Sean Dunphy.
When Memory Lane was released in Ireland last year, it bowed at #5 on the Irish Music chart and quickly reached double platinum sales amidst four sell-out Irish tours. The group headlined the Oxegen Festival, performed at Arthur Guinness Day and, with an impact comparable to a Super Bowl halftime show, bowled over a crowd of 80,000 at the All Ireland Hurling Final at Croke Park Stadium. And they’ve been named “Best Folk Group” for three years running by the Irish Music Awards.
On Memory Lane, The High Kings showcase their versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, playing 13 instruments between the four of them, bringing a rousing acoustic flavor to new songs such as “Step it Out Mary”, as well as some old favorites such as “Irish Rover,” “Red is the Rose,” “Whiskey in the Jar” and “Green Fields of France.” Memory Lane captures the ensembles energetic sound of ‘folk n roll’, serving up laughter and good times amidst rousing harmonies.
The High Kings first exploded onto the Irish folk music scene in 2008 with their self-titled debut CD /DVD and was introduced to American audiences on Public Television where they achieved top ratings and widespread recognition. Over a million plus viewers have watched their “Rocky Road To Dublin” on YouTube. Bolstered by appearances on NPR’s Weekend Edition, The View and Weekend Today, the album landed in the Billboard Top 200 chart, ranked #13 on the Top Internet Album chart, and climbed to #2 on Billboard’s world music chart.
THE HIGH KINGS TOUR SCHEDULE
Tues 3/1-Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
Wed 3/2- Minneapolis, MN Sun Country Theater
Thurs 3/3- Chicago, IL Irish Heritage Center
Fri 3/4- Cincinnati, OH Music Hall Ballroom
Sat 5/3- Columbus, OH Capital Theater
Sun 5/6- Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
Tues 3/8-Pittsburgh, PA Hard Rock Café
Wed. 3/9-Buffalo, NY Club Infinity
Thurs 3/10-Scranton, PA Shopland Theater
Fri 3/11-Syracuse, NY Wescott Theater
Sat 3/12-Watertown, NY North Country Goes Green Festival
Sun 3/13-Albany, NY The Egg
Wed 3/16- NYC Sullivan Hall
Thurs 3/17-Boston, MA Paradise Club
Fri 3/18-New Haven, CT Toad’s Place
Sat 3/19- Providence, RI Sapinsley Hall
Sun 3/20- Baltimore, MD M&T Bank Pavillion
Tues 3/22-Philadelphia, PA World Café Live
Wed 3/23- Alexandria, VA Birchmere
Sat 3/26- Norfolk, VA Roper PAC
Sun 3/27- Raleigh, NC Clayton Center
Mon 3/28- Charlotte, NC McGlohon Hall
Tues 3/29 -Knoxville, TN Square Room
Thurs 3/31 -Atlanta, GA Rialto Theatre
