The High Kings in Cleveland

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 + Cleveland

The High Kings brought their particular brand of Irish traditional music to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in July 2025, moving through a setlist that mixed the expected with the deeper cuts. They opened with "Step It Out Mary" and built momentum through crowd-pleasers like "Rocky Road to Dublin" and "The Galway Girl," but the real meat was in songs like "Connemara Bay" and "1845," which showcased why people keep coming back to their shows. The evening built toward the inevitable closer: "The Parting Glass," a song that hits different when you're standing in a fairgrounds in Ohio watching four Irish guys remind you why this music still matters.

The High Kings in Cleveland News

• The High Kings featured in soundtrack for current #1 movie worldwide, Sinners Hotpress · Apr 23, 2025
• Things to do this weekend: St. Paddy's Day festivities lead events in Akron and Cleveland Akron Beacon Journal · Mar 14, 2024
• Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival to return after 3-year hiatus Spectrum News 1 · Jul 6, 2023
• Steve Perry has joined forces with Irish folk group The High Kings for their new single - and he's told us why Louder · Apr 28, 2023
• 37 Cleveland concerts to check out in March 2018: Miguel, P!nk, Michael Stanley, more Cleveland.com · Mar 1, 2018

Live Music in Cleveland

Cleveland has always had a soft spot for roots music and storytelling—the city's blues and folk traditions run deep. The High Kings fit naturally into that lineage, their Irish traditional approach resonating with a Midwest audience that appreciates straight-ahead musicianship and songs that actually mean something. There's a pragmatism to how Cleveland listens to music, a resistance to hype, which suits a band more interested in nailing a melody than performing for an algorithm.

Cleveland road trip to see The High Kings?

Stay in Ohio City, where Victorian brownstones meet serious coffee shops and galleries. Dinner at Fairmount, where chef Jonathon Sawyer sources locally and cooks with real technique—expect seasonal American food that doesn't announce itself. Spend an afternoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which is free and genuinely excellent. Walk through the West Side Market before the show, grab something you don't need, and feel the bones of the city. The whole neighborhood has that working-class dignity that makes Cleveland distinct.