On the evening of March 4, the Bijou Theatre hosted Irish folk band The High Kings.
Beloved by traditional Irish folk music enthusiasts, the band has released eight albums since their inception in 2007, with the ninth set to be released this year. They’ve gone on multiple world tours and are currently on The Rocky Road Tour.
The High Kings is made up of four members: Darren Holden, Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy and Paul O’Brien. They play 13 instruments between the four of them.
Those who don’t listen to Irish music may still be familiar with their work, even if you don’t realize it. Their song “The Rocky Road to Dublin” features prominently in the 2025 award-winning film “Sinners.”
That feature brought a wave of new listeners to The High Kings’ music. Though initially released by The High Kings in 2008, “The Rocky Road to Dublin” is the namesake of their current tour and the band’s opening song.
“Sinners” won multiple awards, including Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media at the Grammys earlier this year. Included on that iconic soundtrack are two of The High Kings’ songs: “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and “Will Ye Go, Lassie Go?”
Even if you haven’t seen the film, a portion of “The Rocky Road to Dublin” went viral on social media following the film’s release, further propelling The High Kings into popularity and reaching a wider audience than the band had ever experienced before.
The High Kings’ newfound fame following their features in the wildly successful “Sinners” film is a powerful example of the impact media can have. The revival of a 17-year-old song ushered in a new era for the band.
However, their steadfast fans are still primarily the ones selling out their tour and rattling the walls of smaller venues with stomps and claps. The audience at the Bijou Theatre was mainly composed of older fans, who had likely followed the band since they formed.
However, some younger faces peeked out through the crowd, singing along. UT senior Claire McSpedon is a long-time fan of The High Kings.
“It’s a good day to be Irish,” McSpedon said.
Some younger fans who didn’t grow up listening to the band’s music still came across The High Kings organically before their rise in popularity last summer, like senior Emma Lambert.
“I began listening to them before studying abroad in Ireland last spring. It was exciting to attend the concert and listen to songs that were very nostalgic to the time I spent abroad,” Lambert said.
The successful concert at the Bijou Theatre is only the start of The Rocky Road Tour. Who knows where else this recent revival of The High Kings’ music will take the band?
Celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day by playing “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and other hit songs by The High Kings. You might just find yourself singing and dancing along.
