MADRA SALACH land at #3 with debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age!

MADRA SALACH are the the highest new entry on this week’s Official Irish Albums Chart

Dublin alternative-folk six-piece MADRA SALACH are the the highest new entry on this week’s Official Irish Albums Chart, with their debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age landing at #3 and topping the Independent Chart following its release on January 23rd.

Recorded at Dublin’s Sonic Studios, the EP demonstrates the group’s innovative approach to folk music, incorporating harmonium and synthesisers alongside traditional instrumentation. The release features previously released singles Blue & Gold and I Was Just A Boy, alongside the fan-favorite The Man Who Seeks Pleasure, a traditional cover of Spancil Hill, and the closing track Murphy Can Never Go Home. The band comprises Paul Banks (vocals), Adam Cullen (guitar), Jack Martin (mandolin/tin whistle/synth), Maxime Arnold (harmonium), Dara Duffy (drums), and Jack Lawlor (bass).

Madra Salach officially formed in 2023 when founding members Banks, Cullen, and Duffy began playing impromptu sessions in pubs around Dublin’s Northside. The lineup expanded when Banks met Jack Martin, with both musicians contributing to the band’s original songwriting alongside Irish folk standards.