A special group of Irish men and women have been responsible for preservation of the tradition of Irish ballad singing over the past 50 years. Derek Warfield is a distinguished name among them. Derek Warfield and They Young Wolfe Tones are bringing that musical tradition forward with a reverence for Ireland’s past and the energy and optimism of a new generation of Irish musicians.

Damaris Woods - Banjo
Damaris Woods from Co. Meath and is recognized as one of the foremost banjo players in Irish music.

She has made a major contribution in popularizing the banjo within Irish traditional music. Damaris has performed an extremely hectic touring schedule over the last decade across the world. She has appeared on the Irish Spring Tour in Germany and been part of performing groups in North America, Australia and the prestigious Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Briton, Canada.

Damaris has appearances on many radio and television shows including Ireland’s The Late Late Show (RTÉ).

Damaris is also a gifted music and many of her students have been prominent prizewinners in traditional music competitions over the last number of years. On an annual basis Damaris organizes the hugely popular traditional arts camp – The Ag Seinm Traditional Arts Campin Co. Cavan, Ireland.

Despite her own hectic schedule she still manages to find time to teach at the Joe many traditional workshops including The Joe Mooney Summer School in Drunshambo, The University of Ulster,Coleraine and more recently at the newly founded Derry International Irish Music Festival in Co. Derry. Damaris has recently released her first solo album “With A Banjo on My Knee” to great acclaim. 


Peadar Hickey – Guitar and Vocals
Dublin’s Peadar Hickey has been delivering the songs of Ireland’s history to audiences at home and abroad for over a decade. A regular fixture on the Dublin city folk and traditional music circuit, Peadar learned his trade on stage at The Arlington Hotels, Oliver St John Gogarty’s and The Temple Bar in Dublin’s Cultural Quarter.

Peadarspends a lot of his time in New York City, where he performs on the Irish American circuit, teaming up with notable musicians such as Pio Ryan (banjo), Matt Mancuso (fiddle) and Vonnie Quinn (fiddle).

On St Patrick’s Day 2013, Peadar was invited to join All-Ireland winning accordion player Martin O’Connell in a performance at the New York Mayor’s residence – Gracie Mansion.

Peadar is currently an instructor of guitar for traditional Irish accompaniment at the Irish Arts Center in Manhattan. 

DanielO’Sullivan – Uileann Pipes and Vocals
Daniel is from Kilcullen in Co Kildare. He has been playing music from a very young age. His mother was a music teacher who taught classical music and taught him various instruments since the age of 5. At the age of 13 Daniel picked up the tin whistle which gave him a love of traditional music. Very soon afterwards he took up the Uilleann Pipes under the tutelage of legendary Uilleann Piper, Ronan Browne. Such was his enthusiasm for the instrument that only 4 years later at the age of 17 he won the All Ireland Fleadh Ceol for his ‘air’ playing in Ballina. He also won the all-Ireland Slogadh competition as part of a band. Daniel also performed as a piper with ‘Riverdance’ in Norway in 1998. He also enjoys writing his own instrumental music which he performs on the pipes.

Daniel is a Civil Engineering graduate and worked on Oil Rigs in India and Turkmenistan for 2 years. In 2007 he left this work to embark on a more musical career. Since then he has played at popular music venues all around Dublin, Europe and the USA as both a singer and an instrumentalist.

Daniel has a great passion for all aspects of Irish culture and in 2007 he founded an Irish Music and Dance Show which includes Irish Dance lessons called ‘The Irish Dance Party’. This show which operates in Templebar, Dublin now attracts thousands of visitors every year and is rated highly on ‘Tripadvisor’.

Daniel has recently joined ‘Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones’ and is very excited at the prospect of singing and playing instrumental music with such a diverse and eclectic group that has such a passion for Irish culture and history, as well as performing to a wider audience.

Derek Warfield’s 50 years of experience coupled with the talent and energy of The Young Wolfe Tones brings the old tradition of Irish balladry into a new age. The story of Ireland is transmitted in their music and song and illuminated by the outstanding musicianship of three wonderful ambassadors of a new generation of traditional players. Derek Warfield and The Young Wolfe Tones deliver Ireland’s traditional music and folk songs with an energy and skill that shows the quality of contemporaries within that tradition. The patriotic spirit of Irish music carried through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s by the Wolfe Tones now marches on in the dynamic sound of The Young Wolfe Tones.

www.theyoungwolfetones.com
www.facebook.com/theyoungwolfetones
www.irishworldradio.com


DISCOGRAPHY

Legacy
Faugh-a-Ballagh (Clear The Way)
Bonnie Blue Flag
Sons Of Erin
Liberte 98
Slán Abhaile
A Nation Once Again
God Save Ireland
Green White & Essential Gold Volume 2 (2 CD Set)
Green White & Essential Gold Volume 1 (2 CD Set)
The Night Is....Young
On The One Road
Far Away In Australia
On The One Road
Let Ye All Be Irish Tonight