IRISH FOLK GROUP ‘THE HIGH KINGS’ SHARE NEW SINGLE ‘THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN-THE CELTIC REMIX’ AND ANNOUNCE AUSTRALIAN TOUR IN SEPTEMBER
Today, one of Ireland’s most beloved folk bands, The High Kings, return with a powerful new track, blending traditional elements with a modern sheen courtesy of their new single The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix. A rousing take on the Irish classic, the track builds on the band’s previous version featured on the #1 charting 2025 film Sinners. The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix also paves the way for the upcoming Australian tour this September.
The Step It Out World Tour will visit some of Australia’s most iconic venues, kicking off on Thursday 11 September in Brisbane, before heading to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and finishing in Fremantle on Saturday 20 September, with the Perth and Melbourne shows already completely sold out, and low ticket warnings in place for Brisbane, tickets for The High Kings’ Step it Out Australian tour are on sale now from metropolistouring.com/the-high-kings-2025/.
The High Kings previously gained significant attention after their version of The Rocky Road to Dublin was featured on the 2025 horror film Sinners, the global box office hit that reached #1 worldwide, and starred Michael B. Jordan in dual leading roles. A “classic song that every Irish person knows”, as The High Kings’ vocalist and instrumentalist Brian Dunphy explains, the group were inspired by both Ludwig Göransson, the composer for Sinners, and fellow countrymen The Pogues for their new sonic endeavour, working alongside arranger and producer Billy Farrell to create a reimagined version of the song that has squarely put them on the map. “This song has been a staple of our live show since we started and we are known for our signature version throughout the world,” explains fellow vocalist and instrumentalist Darren Holden. “Since we’ve blown up this year through our connection to the Sinners movie, a whole brand new generation of HK fans have demanded more from us and this is sort of a welcome gift to the them. This has been a total rebirth and resurgence for the band on a global scale.”
Returning to wow Australia crowds later this year, The High Kings will bring their unbridled and charismatic live performances to Brisbane’s Princess Theatre, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Melbourne’s Northcote Theatre, Adelaide’s The Gov, Perth’s Rosemount Hotel and Freo Social in Fremantle. Boasting everything from banjo, flute, accordion and mandolin through to whistles, bouzouki, bodhrán and beyond, each The High Kingsperformance sees the band’s four members switching between instruments and harmonies, showcasing their versatility and deep roots in Irish folk music. And with a resoundingly positive fan reaction to the announcement of The High Kings returning down under this year, their anticipated performances solidify the power of the Irish expat community in Australia, with fellow Irishmen The Coronas also touring Australia in 2025 for the fourth year in a row, post punk favourites Fontaines D.C. touring earlier this year, The Corrs returning by popular demand to stages back in February, and The Druids touring nationally in January.
“I spent a few months in Australia with Riverdance in 2003 and I toured all the East Coast and even had my second Honeymoon in Port Douglas and remember how beautiful and real the Australians are,” shares Brian. “The band wanted to play there for so long and now on our return it’s gonna be huge.”
“This tour is a massive celebration of our entire catalogue with focus on the hits and some of the more recent big songs from The Road Not Taken album which reached Top 10 in more than 12 countries,” adds Darren. “Last time we played Australia we were astounded at the size of the audiences that came out to see us and this year is promising to be even bigger. It’s the loudest crowds we play to!”
Originally hailing from four different parts of Ireland, with completely different backgrounds, The High Kings formed in Dublin back in 2008. Musically tipping their hat to the ancient High Kings who ruled Ireland centuries ago, The High Kings, now consisting of vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Finbarr Clancy, Darren Holden, Brian Dunphy and Paul O’Brien, first spun heads via their 2008 self-titled Platinum debut full-length album, rocketing to #2 on the world Billboard Music Chart, before going on to release their certified Platinum 2010 album Memory Lane. Now with ten studio albums under their belts, including their acclaimed most recent LP The Road Not Taken (2023), as well as 303 million all-time streams, The High Kings are globally revered for their rowdy and fun-fuelled onstage presence as well as their ability to weave modern and entirely relatable sonic wizardry into the Irish Folk genre; a fact that is reflected in the band breaking records and selling out venues across the world along the way. And whether collaborating with Journey frontman Steve Perry, playing to 30 thousand fans, performing on top of the Empire State Building, appearing on smash soundtracks or charming audiences on The Late Late Show, 2025 marks yet another luminous high point in The High Kingsincredible ongoing journey – and their upcoming live shows and new music is set to further the fervour passion surrounding a band who have redefined folk music for a modern, and very appreciative, audience.
“It feels Incredible to think after all these years singing it, we have brought a new and fresh sound to an old but brilliant classic folk song,” shares Brian.
“It’s a new dawn for the band,” concludes Darren. “We’ve never seen such numbers streaming our music and coming out to see us in concert. This new version kicks off a massive year for the band. It’s time to celebrate Ireland!”
The Rocky Road To Dublin – The Celtic Remix is out today.
Tickets for The High Kings’ upcoming Australian tour are onsale now from metropolistouring.com/the-high-kings-2025/.
Stream: THE ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN – THE CELTIC REMIX
THE HIGH KINGS – UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:
THURS 11 SEPT | PRINCESS THEATRE, BRISBANE QLD *LOW TICKETS*
Tickets available from https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/25006166A2C02CFD?did=promoter
FRI 12 SEPT | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW
Tickets available from https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=HIGHKING25&eg=PROM&ep=METRO
SAT 13 SEPT | NORTHCOTE THEATRE, MELBOURNE VIC *SOLD OUT*
THURS 18 SEPT | THE GOV, ADELAIDE SA
Tickets available from https://tickets.metropolistouring.com/outlet/event/b00c69ce-9b14-416f-8d8b-6774b4289aa5?accessCode=promoterpresale
FRI 19 SEPT | ROSEMONT HOTEL, PERTH WA *SOLD OUT*
SAT 20 SEPT | FREO SOCIAL, FREMANTLE WA
Tickets available from https://m.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/the-high-kings-ireland-step-it-out-world-tour/173593?skin=FREO&offercode=METPRE
BRAZEN BARBIE SHARES LUSH NEW SINGLE ‘AIN’T NO DUMMY’ FROM UPCOMING MIXTAPE ‘BRAZEN’
Grit and glam go hand in hand as Kenyan-Australian musician Brazen Barbie today unveils a brand new cut and music video, Ain’t No Dummy, with the lush new single taken from her forthcoming new mixtape, BRAZEN, set for release on Friday August 1.
Bustling with vibrant production, razor-sharp flow and a dynamic fusion of R&B, hip hop and rap, Ain’t No Dummy is a playful yet powerful outing that incorporates nods to some of the greats like Missy Elliot, Duke Deuce, Project Pat and Eve, while also flexing Brazen Barbie’s powerhouse ability to fuse influences without imitation – and inject lashings of empowerment. “Ain’t No Dummy is about knowing better and still doing it anyway, but on your terms,” shares Brazen Barbie. “It’s playful and a bit messy, sitting in that space where you’re fully aware, but still choosing chaos for the fun of it. There’s contradiction in it. being petty but self-aware, letting things slide but clocking everything. It’s also about people underestimating you, thinking you’re naive, when really you’re ten steps ahead.”
Working with MixedByDaniel, aka Daniel Roberts and beat producer David Arcade, Ain’t No Dummy also arrives today armed with a new music video, with Brazen Barbie teaming up with artist NBreezy to ultimately conjure the playful yet inescapably substantial messaging to visual life. “The video leans into the contradictory side of the song,” says Brazen Barbie of the brand new clip. “It’s playful, hyper feminine, super dolled up and taps into the bimbo coded look, like we may look sweet and naive but looks can be deceiving. It’s fun and animated on the surface but there’s intention behind everything.”
With 12 tracks lying in wait on her upcoming mixtape BRAZEN, Brazen Barbie fiercely and triumphantly embodies her namesake, with bold and exuberant sensuality in tandem with resilience, vulnerability and plenty of fresh rap, hip hop and R&B twists and turns to captivate from start to finish. Whether doling out serpentine swagger (Can’t Hang), moody, trap-soaked flow (Been That), hypnotic lucidity (Sneaky), sparkling self-awareness with a glossy punch (Ain’t No Dummy) or oozing into contemporary R&B splendour (What Do I Care), BRAZEN captures a kaleidoscope of raw honesty and sheer talent into this singular mixtape, significantly heightened by Brazen Barbie’s effusive creative DNA and an ingrained ability to get deep without losing the twinkle in her eye. “BRAZEN is a self portrait,” shares Brazen Barbie. “Each track is a snapshot of a different mood or moment in my life, and a different version of the voice in my head. I wanted it to feel like turning up, in your head, and in a diary all at once. The themes that come across the project are self worth, resilience, power, and owning every part of myself, the good, the gritty, the tired. The themes run deep even when the delivery is playful.”
Beginning her creative journey at a young age, Brazen Barbie grew up surrounded by music at home and went on to play cello and sing as a kid – “but hip hop was what always really grabbed me,” she reveals. “I just vibed with how real it felt, the stories and attitude”. Spurred by a hunger to push her own boundaries and vulnerabilities, Brazen Barbie’s ability to inject her own voice into music that is simultaneously raw and fresh has seen her repeatedly (and vigorously) turn heads, with hits like CHECK and DON’T TALK celebrating confidence, independence and divine femininity. And while her braggadocious bars enamour on their own, it’s also Brazen Barbie’s playful punchlines that soften the gritty blow of her lyricism, revealing a depth and aptitude equally as powerful as her magnetic releases. Previously performing at Sydney Fringe Festival, BIGSOUND, SXSW and Promiseland, Brazen Barbie was also inducted into the Acclaim Magazine All Stars Class of ’24, and has also garnered features on VICE and Acclaim amongst many others.
Now poised to release her mixtape BRAZEN this August, the stage is tantalisingly set with the arrival today of Ain’t No Dummy; and, as Brazen Barbie concludes, this lush new track opens the door to some fresh sonic terrain. “I’m honestly so excited to drop Ain’t No Dummy,” enthuses Brazen Barbie. “It’s one of those tracks that just feels alive and shows a side of me that is different to my past releases. It’s pretty contagious, I’ve had it on repeat since I recorded it.
Ain’t No Dummy is out today.
BRAZEN mixtape is due out Friday August 1.
THE WITCHY DJYPSIES SHARE WHIMISCAL NEW SINGLE ‘IN MY MIND’ + SINGLE LAUNCH PARTY IN FREMANTLE ON JULY 12
A jubilant and bustling cinematic explosion of gypsy ska and western hues arrive today via In My Mind, the new single from Perth-based international six-piece collective The Witchy Djypsies. A masterful upbeat sonic spell, In My Mind will also be celebrated live onstage next week when The Witchy Djypsies descend on Mojo’s Bar in North Fremantle for their single launch on Saturday 12 July.
Instantly erupting with pulsing beats and prowling basslines, In My Mind careens into moody yet mischievous terrain as it balances smoky western backdrops against punchy brass, deep harmonies and a sprinkle of string shedding (“I’m surprised we didn’t melt the strings,” shares drummer Jimmy Marelich). Drawing inspiration from prominent yeo-tone ska act Madness, as well as the likes of Strangely Arousing, The Cat Empire, Doe Maari, Zoufris Maracs and Mano Negra, In My Mind is a euphoric and eclectic immersion for the senses that defies time and genres; something The Witchy Djypsies are fluent in, with the fever dream qualities in the track also stemming from some real-world experiences. “I wanted to write a song about overthinking and feeling everything all at once,” says vocalist and instrumentalist Joana Lavole. “I was sitting outside at about 2am in a dead silent night witnessing the endless train of thoughts and overwhelming feelings that come with it. I wrote the intro then and had a bit of a concept. I brought it to the band, and we shaped it together! We actually worked on that track while touring up north in 2022. We had just done our last gig in Exmouth and we all got COVID. We were stuck on a campsite and I do believe the fever brought out the best of us!”
Teaming up with some of Perth’s finest, The Witchy Djypsies recorded In My Mind at Hopping Mouse Studio with Hunter Percy (Saturated Analog) and Stu McLaughlan, with mixing by Nathan Bell (Bell Acoustics) and mastering by Rob Grant at Poons Head Studios. “We always bounce ideas with our long-time friend and FOH engineer Zak Johnson too!” adds Joana. “The track was produced by us in-house, but especially by Dennis, our bassman, who poured a lot of energy in this whole process!”
Bringing together six talented artists and their musical backgrounds, with members hailing from France, Guadeloupe, The Netherlands and Australia, The Witchy Djypsies have been casting musical spells since vocalist and instrumentalist Joana Lavole first crossed paths with guitarist Sam Ukkola in 2018, leading to jamming, busking and, ultimately, a makeshift band of travellers settling in Western Australia and turning their gaze to writing songs together – and they’ve never looked back. Now consisting of Joana and Sam as well as backing vocalist and bassist Dennis Kooij, backing vocalist and saxophonist Christopher Best, drummer James Marelich and guitarist Leo Ollivier, The Witchy Djypsies fuse Latin beats, cheeky gypsy jazz and brass-infused ska rhythms with refreshing ease, also armed with a potent live presence that has seen them charm at Nannup Music Festival and Blossom Festival, as well at their own headline shows – and fans can definitely expect a party when the group’s In My Mind single launch takes over in Fremantle next week.
“Expect the usual shenanigans,” shares Joana of what fans can expect from the In My Mind single launch on July 12. “A pumping dancefloor, a super fun night, some sexy new merch and a lineup of local talents! Jamie David will open the night with his hilarious storytelling and songwriting. Loose Carrot will then take over with their infectious blend of funk soul and jazz. We will do our thing, firing up the souls in your hearts and shoes. And Loose Springsteen will close the night with his hybrid live electro set. Expect house, funk, disco, beats and brass. Thoughts?”
While In My Mind takes centre stage today, there’s still a whole lot more in store for The Witchy Djypsies in the near future, with even more new music and live shows on the horizon – get your dancing shoes at the ready!
“We’ve had In My Mind in our pockets for a while!” reveals Joana. “We’ve worked hard on this track and it’s been a pretty long process. We’re excited to put it out there in the world! We’ve got more tracks in the bank that we are hoping to release in the next few years. If you haven’t seen us yet, you’re in for a wild surprise. And if you live on the East Coast, start stretching now coz we’re coming in hot!”
In My Mind is out today.
THE WITCHY DJYPSIES – UPCOMING SHOWS:
SAT 12 JUL | MOJO’S BAR, FREMANTLE WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au | 1300 GET TIX | All Moshtix Outlets
