Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones

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Published on: February 8th, 2016

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Derek Warfield
Image courtesy of Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones

Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones will perform at the Irish House on St. Charles Avenue as part of their U.S. St. Patrick’s Day Tour.

A well-known ballad singer and songwriter, Derek Warfield is one of the founding members of the quintessential Irish Rebel band, The Wolfe Tones. Founded in 1963, The Wolfe Tones’ first line-up included Warfield’s brother Brian, Noel Nagle, and Tommy Byrne. The band took its name from Theobald Wolfe Tone, one of the leaders of the Irish Rebellion of 1789.

In 2001, Warfield left The Wolfe Tones to pursue a solo career. He proved himself to be a prolific solo artist; over the last decade, he has released more than 10 solo albums.

Today, Warfield tours with The Young Wolfe Tones. These  “younger generation musicians” include banjo player Damaris Woods, multi-instrumentalist Andrew Sharp, guitarist Peadar Hickey, and ullieann piper Daniel O’Sullivan.

According to Warfield, he and The Young Wolfe Tones share the same passion and enthusiasm for Irish heritage as the original band.

“I have always believed that, because of our history, there is something very profound in our (Irish) song and musical tradition,” said Warfield, who describes playing with The Young Wolfe Tones as "invigorating."

“I have long considered it a privilege to carry its message of inspiration,” said Warfield. “Every performance gets better…and has given these young players and singers the opportunity to display their skills and talents around the world.”

Musically speaking, an alternate meaning of the term “wolf tone” concerns a specific acoustic phenomenon affecting stringed instruments - such as fiddles and cellos - that produces a rebelliously discordant sound, even when the instrument itself is played perfectly. And, as 2016 marks the 100th anniversary the Easter Rising of 1916, perhaps this is an apt description of the rebellious ethos behind the original band.

 Described as a historian of Irish history, a great number of Warfield’s original songs were inspired by the everyday lives of working people in Ireland, both past and present.

“You won’t find the views of the great majority of the Irish people reflected in much of the writing we have from the past,” said Warfield. “That’s very much colored by the need to be acceptable to the rulers of the time. To listen to what’s being said by ordinary people, you have to turn to the songs.”

Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones will perform at The Irish House, 1432 St. Charles Avenue, at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016.

Information about The Young Wolfe Tones is available at http://www.theyoungwolfetones.com/

Information about Irish House events is available at http://www.theirishhouseneworleans.com/

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