Cruachan plus support by My Father The KingCruachan plus support by My Father The King

Cruachan plus support My Father The King. This gig is supported by the Grassroots Venue Support Scheme.  Since forming the band in 1992, it has been Keith Fay’s singular vision that has guided Cruachan for over three decades. Originally appearing under the moniker Minas Tirith, the band’s growing focus on Irish history and mythology soon prompted a change to the more fitting name ‘Cruachan’. From the very beginning, the band’s fusion of Irish folk music with extreme metal set them apart. This pioneering approach helped establish Cruachan as one of the founders of the folk metal genre, pushing the boundaries of what metal could incorporate in terms of traditional instrumentation, themes and atmosphere. In late 1993, their demo Celtica secured a record deal with Nazgul’s Eyrie Productions, leading to the release of their now cult-classic debut Tuatha Na Gael in 1995. The album garnered critical acclaim and laid the foundations for a career that has spanned decades. The band later signed to Hammerheart Records and released The Middle Kingdom in 2000, marking their first international live performances. Their third album Folk-Lore (2002), produced by the late Shane MacGowan of The Pogues, featured his unmistakable vocals on Ride On, which became a charting single in Ireland. Subsequent releases through labels including AFM, Candlelight and Trollzorn saw Cruachan expand their global reputation, performing at major festivals such as Hellfest, Brutal Assault and 70,000 Tons of Metal—where they became one of the few bands to perform three separate sets—alongside numerous international tours and their own landmark 25th anniversary show. In 2020, Cruachan signed with Sweden’s Despotz Records, releasing the single The Hawthorn and ushering in a new era for the band. This period culminated in the release of their ninth studio album, The Living and the Dead, in March 2023—a critically praised work that showcased the band’s continued evolution while remaining rooted in Irish mythology, history and storytelling. Further singles released in the years surrounding the album, including The Crow (which reached number 8 in the Irish charts), The Reaper, The Witch, and The Blacksmith, continued to demonstrate the band’s ability to blend traditional Irish elements with modern metal production, while maintaining their distinct identity. Now over thirty years into their career, Cruachan remain one of Ireland’s most enduring and influential metal acts—respected pioneers who continue to evolve, record and perform worldwide, carrying the legacy of Folk metal into a new era.