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“Manic psycho-ceilídh from the London-Irish heirs to the Pogues' legacy”

Hot Press, Ireland

 

"Anti-racist lyrics and a Reel halfway through exemplify Neck's riotous sound:

as if The Clash were born on the Emerald Isle!"  The Irish Post

 

 

 

With their heady blend of authentic uplifting Irish swirl and electric ballsy Punk swagger Neck are the cutting-edge that scythes incisively through the contemporary Celtic scene. - As befits a band known as 'The Heavy Artillery of Irish Music'!

 

Steeped in its’ musical traditions, Neck’s pedigree traces from all four provinces of Ireland – with one salubrious Dublin neighbourhood being of particular note – via the legendary UK Punk movement, through Shane MacGowan's Popes, to the Irish enclaves of North London, where, like a lot of good Irish ideas, they were 'born in a bottle'! The band’s roots have also informed their tour-schedule, as their inherent Irish élan and wander-lust have taken them to the four corners of the globe.

 

The band already have a movie appearance* and three album releases under their belts, with their seminal second album, Sod ‘em & Begorrah! consolidating them as the cutting-edge of Celtic Punk – and being rated, variously, the second- and third-best Celtic Punk album of all time, behind only The Pogues and Flogging Molly.

 

Plus, Clash-inspired social awareness saw their Anti-racism anthem 'Everybody's welcome to The Hooley!' hitting the UK Charts – and setting an historic precedent when it was plugged through an early-day motion in the House of Commons!

 

But it's their kick-arse, high-energy shows over a wide range of events, from folk to metal, that make them live favourites - particularly at festivals – and even private parties (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Hell's Angel's Club Houses, etc), and led to them supporting acts such as The Levellers, Stiff Little Fingers, Shane MacGowan and Damien Dempsey; as well as to their front-man (an original, former, member of Shane MacGowan’s Popes) guesting or collaborating with the likes of The Alabama 3, The Men They Couldn't Hang, Hayseed Dixie and The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing.

 

Six Glastonbury appearances and countless gigs, festivals and parties across three continents, have also established Neck as one of the leaders of the Celtic / Folk Punk scene. This extensive touring has taken-in thirty seven European trips, eight U.S. ones, ten Irish, one Asian (Moscow, in front of 8,000), and ranged from Cornwall to the Shetlands in the UK!

 

Their heart-felt songs and passionate performances, allied with their ‘Trad. Irish’ authenticity and musicianship, have forged them a big reputation i.e. the Irish Cultural Centre awarded the huge honour of asking them to play a Traditional Irish music seisiún for the Irish team at the 2012 Paralympics; as well as gaining them the firm respect of their big U.S. contemporaries (and friends), The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, and even famous fans such as Johnny Depp...

Neck are, simply, the real deal. Sin é.

 

Just some of the Festivals NECK have rocked the bejaysus out of (& quite a few more than once!):

 

UK and Ireland: Glastonbury (x6), Rebellion (x10!), Beautiful Days (x4), Strummercamp (x4), Solfest (x3), Respect (x3), Bearded Theory (x2), Willowman (x2), Crawley Folk (x2), Knockengorroch (x2), Nozstock (x2), Crawley Folk (x2), AWOD (x2), Belladrum, Boomtown Fair, Wickerman, Guilfest, Trowbridge, Great Escape, Green Gathering, UK; Ardoyne Fleadh (x3), Gas Yard Féile (x2), Waterford Spraoi (x2), Féile an Phobail, Kilkenny, IRL.

 

Europe and Asia: Nuits Celtiques, FR; Goorock, BE; Paas Pop, Huntenpop, Nirwanas TuinFeest, Zommerpop, Elastiek, Jera on Air, Oerel, NL; Punk 'n' Disorderly (x4), With Full Force, Wilwarin, Stadfest, Castellans DE; Postplatz, Nextpunk, CH; Travobaccano, Brintaal Celtic, ITA; Graz, Rain Rock, AT; Skagen, Punk & Billy Bash, DK; Oulu Irish, FIN; Tantsy, RUS;

 

USA: Irish Rock Fest (x2), Irish2000, NY; Wildwood, Irish Rock Fest, NJ; Guinness Toast, NC; Dublin Irish, OH; SXSW, TX; ...and many more!

                                                                                                                                   .

*performing two songs in Film 4’s Belfast-set ‘Rom-Dram’ ‘With or Without You’, directed by Michael Winterbottom (24 Hour Party People, Welcome to Sarajevo) & starring Christopher Ecclestone (Dr. Who, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 seconds,) + they’re also on four other movie soundtracks…