The Wakes are the un-official musical wing of Glasgow Celtic FC - for American readers Celtic are a Glasgow, Scotland based soccer team with strong Irish roots and one of the biggest sports brands in the world.
The music of The Wakes clearly reflects the team they support - pub rock meets the Irish ballad tradition - sort of somewhere between The BibleCodeSundays meets The Wolftones -and though the rebel songs are toned down, scratch below the surface of football and drinking and Irish songs and it’s there.
While all Celtic and Irish sports fans will love this you don't have to know the first thing about soccer to get carried away in the roar of the crowd (though Huns and Hearts fans will loathe).
Must hears include Drinkin’ Song, Pirates of the League and the cover of David Rovics St. Patrick’s Battalion
Glengarry county, Ontario is proving to be quite the breeding ground for Celtic-roots rock - obviously there are the mighty Glengarry Bhoys and Shite’n'Onions favs., The Peelers and now entering the fold is Bang on the Ear (Waterboys influence anyone?). The Peelers are the closest musical and style wise comparison to Bang on the Ear (and oh yeah The Waterboys). Good stuff though I blame the water in Glengarry County for all this great music - I think it may be spiked with a little whiskey and a lot of whisky.
