Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones pick up where the lockdown left off

Richard Duckett, Telegram & Gazette

November 13, 2022 at 2:28 PM·7 min read

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WORCESTER — The show did go on amid sudden shutdowns and lockdowns nationwide as Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones took the stage at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center on March 13, 2020, just before St. Patrick's Day.

However, "It was the last show. The last show for a while. It was a memorable show. We didn't stand on a stage (again) for 18 months," Warfield said.

The veteran Irish singer, songwriter and his talented group of younger musicians and singers were on tour in the United States when the pandemic hit. Warfield is no stranger to Worcester, but didn't realize it would be his last stand for while.

"We were here in America. We didn't know whether to stay in America or go home. We stayed in America for a couple of weeks and realized it was going to be long term," Warfield recalled.

The group was able to get a flight out of Miami back to Ireland, where it was, "locked down for 17, 18 months."

But Derek Warfield & The Young Wolf Tones will be back at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center for an 8 p.m. show Nov. 18 as part of its new stateside tour.

Warfield likes the place. "It's a small little club but the energy and appreciation is as big as the city. People love the songs and the music," he said.

The Nov. 18 show may not be near to St. Patrick's Day, but the proceeds from the concert will benefit the Worcester County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

"Brendan has made a great effort to bring the band to Worcester and the Parade Committee is honored to receive a portion of the event's proceeds," said Erin Zamarro, chairperson of the Worcester County St. Patrick's Day Committee. "Our committee works to support Irish culture in Worcester County through our year-round efforts to promote the parade, which is entirely funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising activities. Fans of live music — especially Irish music — should see this show. The music will stick with you for days!"

Derek Warfield & The Young Wolf Tones play traditional Irish music and original songs with Irish themes, something that can resonate in many countries, including with people who have no Irish heritage because the music's so good.

Many "reluctant exiles" from Ireland "brought the music with them. Music is therapeutic to a lot of Irish people. Our national emblem is a harp. Music is very important for social life. Music is very important for our identity," Warfield said.

"Our show is like a mirror of Irish music. The songs tell our history, protest, resistance, artistry, but we also have to entertain. It's a night of fun and entertainment and stories about Ireland," Warfield said.

That's been his mission for about 60 years.

Best-selling albums

Warfield, 79, was a co-founder in 1963 of the Wolfe Tones, which had 13 best-selling albums with traditional and original songs (many of them written by Warfield) that often dealt with Ireland’s traditions, history, struggles and rebellions, and sometimes caused controversy.

Indeed, The Wolfe Tones were known as a "rebel" band with songs like its version of "A Nation Once Again" envisioning a united Ireland. The band's name set the tone. Theobald Wolfe Tone (1763-1798) was a leading Irish revolutionary figure who met his untimely end after being captured by the English following the failed Irish Rebellion of 1798.

Also a historian, Warfield has extensively researched, uncovered, performed and recorded Irish songs of the American Civil War with titles such as "Green Flag and Fredericksburg" and "The Irish Brigade."

Meanwhile, Warfield has performed in Worcester with both the Wolfe Tones and the Young Wolfe Tones.

In an earlier interview he said he he formed the Young Wolfe Tones around 2004-05 because, "I felt I had something more to give. The musical ideas and songs of remembrance that I popularized, I decided to give them a new lease on life. A second lifeline for me," he said.

The current lineup, besides Warfield, includes Damaris Woods, Cormac McGuinness, Wayne Brereton, Andreas Durkin, and Eddie Kane. Woods is recognized as one of the foremost banjo players in Irish music, and has appeared on many radio and television shows in Ireland. She also organizes an annual traditional arts camp in County Cavan, Ireland.

On the band's visits to America, particularly the Northeast, multi-instrumentalist Brendan Keenan of Worcester has joined them on stage and also recorded with them.

'Spirit of spontaneity'

"Growing up listening to the Wolfe Tones, it is still somewhat surreal to be performing and recording with a founding member of the band," Keenan said. "I have to say that the partnership I have with the band and performing with them has made me a better musician. There is a spontaneity to the performances that keeps all the musicians on our toes. Just yesterday at a show in Reading, we launched into a requested song that we never performed together.

"The audience feeds off of this spirit of spontaneity, and it creates an energy that can only be experienced by seeing the band live ... I have noticed that the Worcester crowd gets a little extra from Derek and the band every time they are in town."

But back in Ireland during the lockdown, "for musicians it was months and months of uncertainty," Warfield said. "We we were confronted with a situation none of knew how to deal with."

The band went online with a Zoom broadcast every Friday from Warfield's house.

"My boys and Damaris found technical skills they didn't now existed," Warfield. Keenan "helped us with our videos. We got to a level where it was very good."

The silver lining of the situation was "we got a whole new audience for the shows. We invited musicians in a similar situation to ourselves onto the show."

That gesture was typical of Warfield, Keenan said.

"Derek is very supportive of other musicians. He and Damaris help with booking gigs for other musicians, and they are selfless in this way. For them, it is not about their band only, and they are so gracious to share the opportunities they have with up-and-coming bands," he said.

Derek Warfield & The Wolfe Tones made an initial return to live performing last October, but it didn't last long as the Irish government locked everything down again over Christmas.

"All our concerts went by the wayside," Warfield said.

'New normal'

A visit to the U.S. in February found that many live performing venues weren't ready for shows. But a return trip stateside this fall has been going much better.

"This is the first time, really, we've had a smooth tour and could rely on the venues with certainty," Warfield said. "It's not back to normal. It's a new normal. Everything's doubled in price. For traveling musicians it's definitely a new normal. The show must go on, that's the way we look at it.

"I think we all agree for traveling musicians doing what we do and what we love we wouldn't be in it unless we loved it."

For traveling musicians such as Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones "they're not motivated by earnings, they like music, they like the tradition, and they love performing. Artistically it feels like you're doing something of value and appreciated around the world, Warfield said.

With is 80th birthday coming up next year, Warfield was asked if he's given any thought to retirement.

Warfield likes to quote folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger, who asked the same question when he was 92 replied "retirement is death."

"I think I say the same way," Warfield said.

"As long as I have my health. But you never know what's down the road for you. I just take every day and thank God I'm alive."

Keenan said, "The addition of this special November appearance in the middle of the band’s tour of the US and Ireland is a testament to the special bond between Derek Warfield and Worcester."

He also noted, "mark your calendars for the annual Young Wolfe Tones in March, that will occur on Friday, March 10, in the hall at Fiddlers Green, Worcester."