It’s been 8 years since The Fógues, as four energetic teenagers, burst onto their local music scene in North Cork, laying down a definite marker for their style; at the time an oddity among their age group.
With the band’s name chosen as a play on their surname, cousins Micheál, William and Jack Fogarty along with their friend Ted O’Brien set about creating a new sound for themselves, paying homage to their traditional Irish roots while looking towards the future and further afield. Since then, they have enjoyed and rode the wave of the recent folk music revival in Ireland.
Early successes in the Mitchelstown Busking Festival in 2017 and 2018 paved the way for The Fógues towards the big stage, with a string of major festival appearances now under their belt.
Their debut album in 2020 was a snapshot of the songs they were playing at the time, in the pubs, marquees and halls around Munster. A mix of modern covers, old standards and some originals, “Long Nights in Pokey Places” provided a springboard for this group to get their music in front of a wider audience. While met with relative success on streaming platforms, it also came at a time which we know was extremely difficult for gigging musicians.
Their long awaited second album comes now with a difference; an air of unfinished business and a certain freshness about it. 16 original tracks, ranging from historical and political to lovesick and whimsical, The Fógues take their listeners on a trip through the “Golden Vale”.
Although regulars on the festival scene around Ireland, this album showcases The Fógues as you’ve never heard them before. Certainly not to be missed – CDs available to order from www.thefogues.com. Follow them on Instagram @the_fogues and on all the regular social media platforms.