The Rumjacks

Formed in 2008 The Rumjacks combine a variety of musical influences, including elements of punk rock and traditional celtic folk. The band quickly released their debut EP Hung, Drawn & Portered, which was followed by their second EP 'Sound as a Pound' later that year.[3] The Rumjacks quickly developed a strong local following through their constant touring and energetic performances, becoming a must-see group of the Sydney and Australian music scene. With their strong local support and burgeoning international awareness, The Rumjacks secured international supports with punk legends U.K Subs, GBH and Gypsy punk legends Gogol Bordello amongst others.

After some early lineup changes, the band settled on and maintained their line up of McLaughlin, McKelvey, drummer Anthony Matters, guitarist Gabriel Whitbourne and banjo/mandolin/bouzouki player Adam Kenny, recording three critically acclaimed albums together: Gangs of New Holland (2010); Sober and Godless (2015); and Sleeping Rough (2016), before Anthony's departure following their 2016 European tour.[4]

In addition to performing shows in many Australian cities,[5] The Rumjacks have embarked upon many sold-out European tours. The first European tour in 2015 featured the legendary Jarocin Festival in Poland and the enigmatic Boomtown Fair UK. Quickly followed by their mammoth 2016 Euro tour, that saw The Rumjacks perform on the main stages of festivals including Woodstock Poland; Mighty Sounds; Punk Rock Holiday; and Lowlands Festival.[6] The Rumjacks embarked on their first-ever U.S. tour in March 2017, which included performances at San Diego's Shamrocked Fest and Austin's South by Southwest Music Festival. The band continued to tour across Europe through 2019.

A major international breakthrough for the band came with their 2011 single, ‘An Irish Pub Song’ which was lifted from the 2010 album 'Gangs of New Holland'. The song is an observational commentary on the fact that there are Irish styled pubs in every single part of the world. The song's music video exploded on-line, amassing over 60 million views and counting on YouTube, and is the catalyst to the groups growing success and popularity in Europe and the U.S.A.[7]

In both 2017 and 2018, YouTube announced its most popular songs on St. Patrick's Day (17 March). 'An Irish Pub Song' was listed as #3 in the USA ahead of songs by Dropkick Murphys, House of Pain, The Corrs, and many more other global giants of music. [8]

Anthony Matters joined The Rumjacks as their full-time drummer in 2009, and worked with the band up until the end of 2016. The pressures of full-time touring, and playing every single day was difficult physically for his body, and he decided to bow out. Anthony was replaced on drums as a full-time member by Pietro Della Sala.

Anthony continued to play music in Sydney, Australia, yet due to untreated health issues he passed away on Friday 7 June 2019. [9]

In early 2018 the band recorded their fourth studio album Saints Preserve Us over 2 weeks in Milan Italy at Crono Sound Factory.[10] It was the first album to feature new drummer Pietro Della Sala. Paul McKenzie from The Real McKenzies featured on the duet ‘The Foreman O’Rourke’, and Mickey Rickshaw appeared on the song ‘Billy McKinley’. The album includes a version of the Irish classic ‘An por ar buile’ (The Mad Puck Goat) which is sung in Gaelic. The album was released on 12 October 2018. At the end of 2018 the band toured South-East Asia for the first time, going to Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

The Rumjacks featured on the song 'Shandon Bells', from The Moorings' 2014 EP Nicky's Detox.

The band also featured on The Rumpled's ‘The Ugly Side’, from the 2018 album Ashes & Wishes.

In 2019 The Rumjacks recorded their version of 'Christmas in Killarney' for Punk Rock Christmas, Volume 2 released by USA label Cleopatra Records.

McLaughlin featured on the song 'True Story', from The Clan's 2016 album All In The Name Of Folk, and also on Maleducazione Alcolica's song ‘Hometown’, from the band's 2019 album Chiacchiere da bar.

A huge drawcard for The Rumjacks has been their live performances. The band has performed at major festivals all over the world including Byron Bay Bluesfest; BIGSOUND Australia; Jaracin Festival Poland; Boomtown Fair UK; Montelago Celtic Festival Italy; Exit Festival Serbia; Woodstock Poland; Mighty Sounds Czech Republic; Rock Marathon Hungary; Punk Rock Holiday Slovenia; Open Flair Festival Germany; Taubertal Festival Germany; Lowlands Festival Netherlands, South by Southwest USA; and Street Mode Festival Greece.

In 2019 the band released two live albums:

Live in London – Acoustic Sessions was recorded in the YouTube Space in Kings Cross, UK. The band recorded 10 songs from across their catalogue in unplugged mode, which were released on 18 April 2019.

Live in Athens was recorded on tour in 2018. The band played at the Piraeus 177 Academy in Greece on 3 November 2018, which was one of their biggest ever headline shows to date. The album was released on 15 November 2019.

Lead singer Frankie McLaughlin was sentenced for three domestic violence [11] offences in 2012: an assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 2 March 2010; a further assault occasioning actual bodily harm committed on 18 August 2010; and a common assault committed on 26 September 2010, of which the band addressed publicly through their Facebook page at the time. Due to a belated public backlash The Rumjacks also released another statement in 2016 [12] He was removed from the band in April 2020 due to bad behaviour and acts of violence towards band members and support crew.

In 2020, The Rumjacks presented their new singer Mike Rivkees. Originating from Boston, Massachusetts, Mike is also the singer of Boston band 'Mickey Rickshaw' and has numerous music influences from old school hardcore to traditional celtic music.

• http://www.therumjacks.com/