McPEAKE

Northern Ireland

McPEAKE is more than a band — it’s a living legacy of Irish music, reimagined for a new era. Based in Belfast and led by the fourth generation of the legendary McPeake musical family, the group fuses centuries of tradition with bold contemporary songwriting, cinematic production, and raw emotional power.

The McPeake name has long been synonymous with Irish music worldwide. It began with Francis McPeake I (1885–1971) best known for writing the beloved folk anthem “Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go (Wild Mountain Thyme)”.

The McPeake Family rose to international acclaim throughout the 1950s–60s. Their landmark 1966 album The McPeake Family of Belfast (produced by Ewan MacColl) became a cornerstone of the folk revival. During this era, the family toured globally, performed for royalty, collaborated with folk legends, and famously played for The Beatles at a private event — where John Lennon requested lessons in the Uilleann Pipes.

In 1977, the legacy deepened further with the founding of the Francis McPeake School of Music in Belfast — a pioneering and inclusive space that offered traditional music education across community lines despite ‘The Troubles’. Thousands of musicians from Northern Ireland and beyond can trace their roots to this school, making it a foundational institution in the city’s musical landscape.

A New Sound, A New Voice

Today, McPEAKE is a dynamic, genre-defying group that blends Irish traditional music with contemporary influences to create a sound that is cinematic, rhythm-driven, and deeply emotive. The band’s music reflects the cultural richness of its lineage, but it is firmly rooted in the now — drawing from alt-folk, indie, and even electronic textures while remaining anchored in the spirit of Irish storytelling.

With soaring Vocals, Uilleann Pipes, Fiddle and Piano at the core of their sound, McPEAKE builds lush sonic landscapes with tight harmonies, layered instrumentation, and deeply personal songwriting. The result is a musical identity that feels both timeless and unmistakably fresh.

Whether performing an original anthem or a haunting reimagining of Wild Mountain Thyme, McPEAKE’s live shows are immersive, moving, and powerful — a seamless blend of heritage and innovation that resonates with audiences across generations.

In 2026, McPEAKE will release a landmark new album featuring all-new material as well as creative reinterpretations of their family’s earlier work. The album will mark the 70th anniversary of the first commercial release of “Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go” (1956). The album will serve as both a celebration and a statement — not simply looking back, but bringing the McPeake story forward into a bold new chapter.

McPEAKE is tradition without borders — a sound forged in Belfast but reaching far beyond. With an identity shaped by legacy and driven by reinvention, McPEAKE offers something rare: music that honours the past, speaks to the present, and dares to shape the future.