The Pogues

The Pogues bring their mix of Irish traditional tunes and punk bite back on stage. Formed in London by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer, the group forged a sound where tin whistle, banjo and accordion lock in with a rough rock rhythm section. Early records like Red Roses for Me and Rum Sodomy & the Lash, produced by Elvis Costello, set the tone with bruised ballads, reworked traditionals and sharp originals. If I Should Fall from Grace with God opened the palette further with collaborations and songwriting that pushed the folk-rock edge. The lineup evolved in the 1990s, but the songbook kept growing through Peace and Love, Hell’s Ditch, Waiting for Herb and Pogue Mahone, before a break and later reunion runs focused on their Celtic punk core.

The Pogues play the Telegraph Building in Belfast, United Kingdom, on 10 December 2026. Expect a set that dips across decades, from rushes of reels and shout-along choruses to slow burners carried by storytelling, with whistles cutting through, guitars driving and a rhythm section built for a good stomp.