Cruachan are performing at TradFest 2026

Cruachan aren’t your typical Irish band, they combine folklore, traditional Irish music, mythology and heavy metal with classical influences, this band has something for everyone.

They will be playing in The Grand Social on the 24th of January with the doors opening at 20:00pm, find ticket purchasing at TradFests website.

Cruachan have been around for nearly 33 years with Keith Fay as the lead singer and one of the founding members. This band has evolved from a Tolkien inspired black-metal band called Minas Tirith to the folk metal fusion band, Cruachan.

The band’s latest release is an album titled ‘The Living and The Dead’ where they blend themes of Irish history, mythology and politics together.

“Half the songs on that album were written about the fallout from the mother and baby homes. If you listen to the song The Crow, in Irish mythology she is the goddess of war. she comes and takes the souls of the dead warriors and brings them to Tír Na Nóg,” said Fay.

When trying to find the balance between folk and metal Fay said that there is no real formula, some tracks will feature more metal than folk and vice verse.

“I’m a big lover of classical music, it’s probably what I listen to more so than metal or folk. On the last album there’s a ton of beautiful, sweeping classical motifs mixed in with the folk mixed in with the metal, it’s all about how I’m feeling in the moment,” Fay said.

Fay was a young teenager when Cruachan was founded, he’s been there through it all. He travelled to Germany to talk to a record label about their first demo and album; that was when Fay got his first passport.

“I was around 12 or 13 when I got into heavy metal because my older brother liked it, copying what my bro was doing of course. I started a little band with my friends and we were absolutely terrible, but one thing I could do as a 13 year old was scream like these bands in Norway and Scandinavia,” said Fay.

From then on he continued being in death metal bands and after a couple years he found interest in Irish folk mythology and that’s where Cruachan was born.

“I wanted to mix folk music with heavy metal and it was completely unheard of to do anything like that,” he said.

Since forming in 1993 Cruachan has seen every side of the music industry, from shoddy record deals, stressful financial situations to amazing opportunities like touring the world and recording with Shane McGowan.

“He [Shane McGowan] produced our Folk-Lore album, we spent two to three weeks recording with him, at the time of recording we toured with Shane and The Pogues,” Fay said.

“The stories we have from touring around you wouldn’t believe them, we’ve been all around, anywhere from Europe to South America,” Fay said.

Fay said that Cruachan are delighted to be a part of TradFest this year “we’re really excited to be asked, the band has been around so long that we play festivals all over the world but we rarely get a look in here in Ireland”.

Cruachan have decided to support themselves for their TradFest show meaning they’ll come on at the start and perform their more traditional folk music and ballads for a half an hour set. After their opening set they’ll go back off stage, get into their Celtic Warrior gear and do their own show.

The members of Cruachan all have full time jobs and they focused on their careers, Fay said that he likes it that way.

“We all have full time jobs, it’s a tough one [when giving advice to young musicians], do you go all in with the band, sacrifice your career or do you focus on having a day job and having the most amazing hobby in the world?” said Fay.

“I think for a young musician I’d say prioritise. Look at your personal space, make sure you have the wherewithal to do things fulltime, don’t immediately sacrifice your career. I hate saying that, but sometimes you have to take that into consideration,” he said.

“I work for an IT company and on Friday I’ll leave the office and will have flown three flights to Siberia, played a festival there and I’m back in work on Monday morning, it’s really exciting,” said Fay.

“There’s a lot to the music industry, you really need to understand what you want because there’s a lot that comes with it,” he said.

Visit Cruachans website for more information on them, upcoming shows and latest releases. Have a look at TradFests website to view the lineup and purchase tickets. Babylonradio for more articles on culture, music and lifestyle.