Fantastic folk punkers The Rumjacks swap their Aussie home for a trip to Bedford Esquires on Saturday (August 11).
“It’s like growing up with a tear in your eye and a storm brewing in your heart..” muses frontman Frankie McLaughlin on the musical heritage of the group.
“We were raised on the Scottish & Irish music in our parents record collection, before colliding head-on with Punk Rock as we grew older and thought we knew everything.”
The Rumjacks continue to cut their own path and their own brand of Celtic Punk has seen them release two EP’s – ‘Hung, Drawn & Portered’ & ‘Sound as a Pound’ (’09), as well as three powerful full length albums – Gangs of New Holland), Sober & Godless, and Sleepin’ Rough.
“We’re at home on any line-up in front of any crowd, I think there are elements of what we do that must appeal to just about anyone” Frankie added.
Indeed there are – from their heavy Celtic roots to the driving punk rock or even ska/reggae rhythms, well-oiled sing-alongs & choking ballads.
“We draw on so many influences, but still it’s important for us to force the bounds of what we already do, play good solid Punk rock with a fat smear of Celtic folk right through it, Hopefully contributing something fresh & substantial that’ll stick around in people’s hearts long after the party’s over..”
2015 marked a real tipping point for the band, when after wowing home crowds with several appearances at the prestigious Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia, they embarked on a hugely successful tour of Europe playing to more than 50,000 people.
Barely stopping to cool their jets, the band made a triumphant return to the festivals and concert halls of Europe and the UK in 2016, playing almost a hundred dates over some 24 countries.
Inciting hysteria and pushing their own physical barriers as they went, the boys chalked up plumb appearances at some of Europe's hottest festivals.
Somehow in the midst of all this they managed to release their third album, the aforementioned Sleepin' Rough, which was met with critical acclaim the world over.
Tickets for the Esquires date are £12 in advance. Book yours here
Never miss leisure news in Milton Keynes - Follow us on www.twitter.com/thisistotalmk
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thisistotalmk
