Brian Warfield of the legendary Irish folk and ballad group, The Wolfe Tones , meets up with his fellow band members, Tommy Byrne, and Noel Nagle in Dublin Airport to embark on an international tour. At the Aer Lingus counter Warfield finds out his bag is too heavy to check, and when he opens the suitcase to lighten the load, he reveals a sea of green, white, and gold headbands - the signature garb worn by Wolfe Tones fans around the world. Too many to carry on the plane, he gladly forks one over to the Aer Lingus attendant. The men can’t help but laugh, and neither could I.
This is a glimpse into the life of the Wolfe Tones from a new documentary from Kenneally Films, “Let the People Sing: The Wolfe Tones Story.”
When you spend 48 years on the road telling stories of Ireland and its people through song, you inevitably rack up a few stories of your own. Finally, the Wolfe Tones story has been told through interviews and never-before-seen archive material in the film.
“Let the People Sing” provides a history of the band while spotlighting the group’s unbelievable accomplish-ments in the face of great controversy brought on by the political nature of many of their most popular songs. The interviews and commentary reveal the struggles and celebrations of the band, but the most powerful aspect of the film is the footage from their concerts around the world. Crowd shots spanning decades capture fans yelling out every single word of each ballad, swaying, jigging, clapping, and even holding hands with complete strangers for crying out loud. It’s an eye opener to the sheer power of the WolfeTones’ music.
Lucky for us New Yorkers, the Wolfe Tones come to town each St. Patrick’s Day season. And New Yorkers know that it’s not just the history of Ireland that the band is interested in sharing through their music. Many of their songs speak to the Irish American experience, especially the well loved song, The Streets of New York. Byrne, Nagle, and Warfield speak of their love for America and the Big Apple in the film, even calling the US a “second home.”
The Wolfe Tones’ New York City home this March will be at Connolly’s Klub 45 on the 10th, 15th, and 16th. Go enjoy a burger, a beer, and a ballad. Hear the stories of Ireland and Irish America, buy yourself a tricolor head band and don’t be afraid to hold hands with a stranger!
For some tunes around town this week check out McLean Avenue duo with Padraig Allen at the Pig & Whistle in NYC on 1/19, Shilelagh Law at the Glenrowan in Yonkers on 1/20 and Black 47 at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck on 1/21.
