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Mudlark Ballads, the new album from Irish folk singer Macdara Yeates, arrives on streaming platforms, CD and vinyl on September 4th 2026.Following his raw, a cappella debut, Traditional Singing from Dublin (2024), Mudlark Ballads sees Yeates step into a brand new sound world, combining strings, found-sounds, found-percussion, drones, spoken interludes, bells, kazoos, handclaps and more, all with his signature blend of centuries-old Irish folk songs.
Macdara Yeates is one of the leading voices in Dublin’s rich and fertile folk scene. Described by Irish Music Magazine as “a true connoisseur of the art of balladry,” his stentorian voice has garnered wide acclaim and featured on stages across Ireland, England, Scotland, the United States, Belgium, Denmark and beyond.
In 2012, Macdara co-founded the Dublin folk collective The Night Before Larry Got Stretched, an early proving ground for young traditional singers, including members of Lankum, Landless, Ye Vagabonds, Lisa O’Neill and more. In the intervening years, he has become a central cog in Dublin’s folk ecosystem, leading community song projects, performing with acclaimed trad ensemble Skipper’s Alley (2013–2017), and, finally, stepping into the fold as a solo artist.
His debut album, Traditional Singing from Dublin, earned a spot on MOJO magazine’s Top 10 Folk Albums of the Year and received two nominations at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, including Best Folk Singer, alongside Ríoghnach Connolly, Cathy Jordan and Christy Moore.
Produced by Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox, Mudlark Ballads is a collection of old Irish folk songs set against a rich, contemporary backdrop. Alongside classics such as the seven-minute epic Matt Hyland, the album includes the first commercial recordings of De May Bush and De Kilmainham Minit – two forgotten Dublin street songs uncovered in the archives of the National Library of Ireland.
Mudlark Ballads will be available on all major streaming platforms on September 4th 2026 with CD and vinyl available via Bandcamp. The release will be followed by a tour of Ireland and the UK across the Autumn/Winter of 2026, with US and European dates to be announced in 2027.
“Rumbling, breathless, powerful.” (Hot Press).
“Essential listening – ★★★★★” (Songlines).
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