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 BRIAN WARFIELD of Irish traditional group THE WOLFE TONES talks to DARRAGH MURRAY about the group’s controversial past and their impending trip to the southern hemisphere.
The Wolfe Tones, a band heavily associated with the promotion of Irish republicanism during political upheaval in Northern Ireland in the late 20th century, are an enduring example of contemporary Irish balladry. While there have been reshuffles in the group’s line-up, they’ve managed to persevere through 48 years of performing both in their native Ireland and throughout the globe. Despite such a long career, chief songwriter Warfield is still passionate about the role the band’s music plays in the nation’s culture.
“The Wolfe Tones are probably unique in the fact that we specialise in telling the history of Ireland”, Warfield tells me, “[Music] has a long history in Ireland – going back to the old bards and balladry throughout the ages – they all carried on that great ballad tradition which we have inherited. We have documented and sung most of the current events that have happened over our lifetime, but we also sing of emigration and folklore. Lots of aspects of Ireland are captured in its song.”
As our conversation turns towards the band’s notoriety for penning overtly nationalistic songs, particularly controversial during the time of The Troubles, Warfield still has no regrets over his part in celebrating Irish republicanism.
“We would be seen possibly as a rebel band, and I think over the years The Wolfe Tones have been blamed and everything – ‘Oh them bloody Wolfe Tones!’ – but the point about it is that it’s our story, it’s what happened, people want to know about it and they want to know an Irish aspect.
“People didn’t like us telling the story from an Irish point of view. People would have preferred that we had forgotten that there was no Troubles and hide our head in the sand, but that’s not my nature.”
Indeed, the group’s role in singing a history of Ireland extends to the present day, with Warfield revealing that the band has even begun work on songs that talk about the country’s current economic woes. Commenting on the current situation in Ireland, Warfield states emphatically,
“It’s terrible to see that something that had been built up to be very good then goes so easily and I think it was a lack of control by government.” Warfield says, “I’ve already written a song called The Man Who Pays The Piper Calls The Tune, it’s a little bit of a light-hearted look at how this merry dance went on.”
The Wolfe Tones’ ability to evoke the cultural heritage of Ireland through their music has allowed the band to stay relevant regardless the changing political landscape within their home country. And despite announcing that last year’s tour of Australia would be the group last tour to the country, Warfield reveals that strong demand compelled the group to return.
“We did intend, at one stage, that tour would be more or less the last, because we’re getting older and we wouldn’t be able to tour Australia every year. It’s quite a long way away, it’s not like next door, but we love Australia so much that we don’t see the hardship any more.”
THE WOLFE TONES play the Shenanigans Irish Music Festival at the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday Mar 26 with Mundy and local support Celtic Fire. www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com
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