Madra Salach

Madra Salach
OriginDublin, Ireland
Genres
Works
Years active2023 (2023)–present
Members
  • Maxime Arnold
  • Paul Banks
  • Adam Cullen
  • Dara Duffy
  • Jack Lawlor
  • Jack Martin

Madra Salach [ˈmˠad̪ˠɾˠa ˈsˠal̪ˠʊx] (English: Dirty Dog) is an Irish contemporary-folk band based in Dublin founded in 2023.[1] Formed by founding members Paul Banks, Adam Cullen and Dara Duffy as they played gigs across various venues in the Northside of Dublin.[2] Three additional members joined to complete the group, with Maxime Arnold, Jack Lawlor and Jack Martin rounding off the six-piece group.[3] Madra Salach have played multiple festivals such as All Together Now and Electric Picnic, shows, and released their debut EP, It's a Hell of an Age in January 2026.[4][5]

Career

Madra Salach started with its three founding members — Paul Banks, Adam Cullen, and Dara Duffy — forming a trad band and playing in pubs and small venues across the Northside of Dublin. Banks began talking separately with a future band-member Jack Martin about contemporary Irish bands and fusing contemporary sound into their music, the two projects combined and make up the group's distinct contemporary folk blend.[1] Following a spate of pub and small venue gigs, alongside a successful festival season in 2025, the group got together to record their debut EP.

Madra Salach's debut-single, "Blue & Gold" was released on September 18, 2025.[6] This would be the first of two singles to be released as a preview to their debut-EP. Their second single, "I Was Just A Boy" debuted on October 30, 2025.[7]

They released their debut-EP "It's a Hell of an Age" on January 23, 2026, which topped the Irish Independent Albums Chart and was number 3 on the overall Irish Albums Charts.[8] The record's name is taken from the opening line of the final track, "Murphy Can Never Go Home" a traditional ballad detailing the Irish migrant experience abroad written by Mick Curry, an Irish labourer working in Birmingham.[9]

Personnel

  • Paul Banks (Vocals)[1]
  • Adam Cullen (Guitar)[1]
  • Jack Martin (Mandolin/Tin Whistle/Synth)[1]
  • Maxime Arnold (Harmonium)[1]
  • Dara Duffy (Drums)[1]
  • Jack Lawlor (Bass)[1]

Discography

EPs

  • It's a Hell of an Age (23 January 2026)[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wilde, Jamie (6 January 2026). "On the Rise: Madra Salach". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Dublin Folk Madra Salach". Breaking Tunes. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  3. ^ Niall, Byrne (18 September 2025). "Madra Salach's great debut single 'Blue & Gold'". Nialler9. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  4. ^ Thompson, Jenna (13 August 2025). "Madra Salach, Calum Agnew, The Donnys and The Wu join lineup for Electric Picnic's ArtLot Area". Hotpress. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  5. ^ Grabarek, Maria (20 January 2026). "Madra Salach announce extra Dublin and Belfast tour dates". hotpress.
  6. ^ Noonan, A.L. (20 September 2025). "Dublin's Madra Salach Release Debut Single 'Blue & Gold'". Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  7. ^ Byrne, Niall (31 October 2025). "Madra Salach to release debut EP and new song out 'I Was Just A Boy'". Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Collins, Phineas (30 January 2026). "Madra Salach debut at No.3 on Irish Albums Chart with It's A Hell Of An Age". Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  9. ^ Moylan, Terry, ed. (2020). A Living Voice The Frank Harte Song Collection. Craft Recordings. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-9553112-1-5.
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