The High Kings in Boston

About The High Kings

The High Kings are an Irish folk supergroup formed in 2008, bringing together four accomplished musicians who've spent decades in the traditional music scene. They've built a reputation for taking classic Irish songs and giving them contemporary arrangements that somehow feel both fresh and respectful to the source material. Their strength lies in tight harmonies and genuine musicianship rather than gimmickry. They've toured extensively across Europe, North America, and Australia, maintaining a steady presence on the folk circuit. The group appeals to both purists who appreciate their technical skill and casual listeners drawn to the accessibility of their sound. They've released multiple albums and continue to be fixtures at folk festivals and theaters worldwide.

Their shows have the feel of a really good pub session that got way bigger. Crowds tend to be mixed generations, everyone pretty engaged. They're solid musicians who don't oversell things, and the room usually gets quiet when it matters.

Known for The Parting Glass, Rocky Road to Dublin, Whiskey in the Jar, Finnegan's Wake, The Foggy Dew

The High Kings + Boston

The High Kings have made a habit of bringing Irish traditional music to Boston crowds, and their July 2025 show at South Shore Music Circus proved why that works. They opened with "Rocky Road to Dublin" and moved through a setlist that balanced the obvious crowd-pleasers with deeper cuts. "The 77A" and "1845" gave the night some weight—songs about Irish history and emigration that hit different when you're in a city full of Irish descendants. They closed with "The Parting Glass," which is the move if you want to send people out quietly contemplative rather than drunk. It's the kind of set that works because it respects the room.

The High Kings in Boston News

• The High Kings Milford Daily News · Mar 1, 2026
• The Irish/Celtic Music Calendar July 2025 bostonirish.com · Jul 1, 2025
• Full list of dates and US cities for The High Kings' summer tour Irish Star · Apr 10, 2024
• Tickets on sale for Irish folk superstars "The High Kings" concert in Boston IrishCentral · Feb 21, 2022
• High Kings bring Irish music to 21st century Cape Cod Times · Mar 4, 2020

Live Music in Boston

Boston's relationship with Irish music runs deep—it's woven into the city's identity in a way that feels less like novelty and more like inherited memory. The folk and traditional scene here has real bones to it, from the sessions in local pubs to the bigger rooms that can hold a band like The High Kings. People show up for this music because it connects to something, not because it's trendy. That's the audience The High Kings plays to: folks who know the difference between a ballad and a drinking song.

Boston road trip to see The High Kings?

Stay in the Back Bay neighborhood—it's walkable, lined with brownstones, and positioned between the best dining and the waterfront. Book a table at No. 9 Park for New American cooking that actually justifies the hype, or hit Oleana in nearby Cambridge if you want something fresher and less fussy. Spend an afternoon at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a genuinely strange and rewarding art collection housed in a deliberately eccentric mansion. The Prudential Center has decent shopping if that's your thing, and the waterfront is legitimately beautiful for a walk before the show.