Introducing DUG, the latest signing to Claddagh Records, a musical duo that's making waves in the folk scene. Comprised of Californian Jonny Pickett & folk artist Lorkin O’Reilly (26M+ Spotify streams), they're known for their modern take on traditional music, blending Irish and American influences.
They’re an unapologetically modern band. Their music stems from roots in musical traditions spanning both sides of the pond. DUG’s love for the musicians that inspired them never steps too far into reverence. You’ll hear plenty of Irish influence in their music, but won’t find any tweed coats or paddy caps here. Instead, the band opts to be themselves, completely natural and organic. In one breath, echoing the great American folk troubadours, and in another, comfortably channeling the elder statesmen of Irish folk. It’s part of what gives the group’s work such a strong charisma and helps establish DUG as having one of the most unique takes on contemporary folk music.
This is no accident. DUG have a shared musical heritage with members born in America and Scotland before arriving in Ireland. O’Reilly himself spent almost a decade making and releasing music in upstate New York, having picked up sticks from his native Edinburgh (Irish mother and Scottish father) before moving to Ireland in 2022 to start a new musical chapter.
There’s a natural magnetism to DUG’s folk brew. The duo formed in 2023, but you’d be forgiven for believing that they’ve been writing together for a lifetime. And you can hear that lived musical experience in their creativity. Resonator guitar and banjo, the building blocks of DUG’s arrangements, lick and spin, with intricate finger-picking patterns whirling to a compelling whole. Their music breathes, vamping in sync.
DUG have firmly established themselves as one of the most unique, and relatable forces in the folk music revival, thanks in part to singles like ‘The Big Sundown,’ ‘Jubilee’ (shortlisted for two Grammy nominations), “Livelong Day,” and the most recent single, ‘Have At It.’
‘Have at It!’ is the foot-stomping single & title track from their debut album released back in September. Inspired by a humorous message shared via his family’s WhatsApp group during COVID, Conor put pen to paper and conceived what was to become the debut album title track.
"Have At It" came from a text message my dad sent to our family WhatsApp group during COVID. At the time, there was that short phase when everyone thought COVID could spread through surfaces. My mum was really worried, so she decided to get a will written. She took a photo of it and shared it in the group chat. In response, my dad sent a picture of his will—a napkin with the words "Have at it!" scribbled across the front!
In their own words:
“Our debut album, Have At It!, is finally out in the world! Recording ‘Have At It!’ began last year at Black Mountain Studios in Dundalk. Joshua Burnside joined us behind the board, and together we kicked off a week-long recording session. Everything was done live and in full takes, between coffee and biscuit breaks. Afterwards, we made a few amendments at Josh’s home studio in Belfast and later with Mike Halls in Liverpool. The final result is a tapestry, stitched together by the brilliant mixing and mastering engineer, Ben Rawlins. All records are exactly that: records. Snapshots of a moment in time, captured and preserved. We set out to catch the energy of our busking set in the studio—the very thing that started all of this—and listening back now, we think and hope we came pretty close. There are no click tracks here; the music moves and shifts, and there are imperfections. This is music made by humans, which would have been strange to say only a year or two ago.” Jonny adds, “It was recorded when we had been a band for only 5 weeks, so it's very fresh. You can tell we're still figuring it out, but we think that adds a good energy. We began having a lot of fun with Cumberland Gap live when we started incorporating some simple circle dancing to get people moving—we've now done this opening for metal bands like The Scratch, and it’s awesome to see metalheads circle dancing. Everyone's down to dance. You just have to be willing to look a little silly yourself, and that usually gets people's guard down.”
DUG’s lyrics catch you off guard, eliciting an honest-to-goodness chuckle in a moment of levity. At their very best, as on their debut, there’s a bona fide warmth littered throughout their unique take on folk storytelling. Tracks like ‘Wheel of Fortune’ have an easy rapport. It’s catching up with an old friend, all mischief and smiles.
There are allusions to darker moments there too: yearning and melancholy, and lessons learned the hard way. Taking the heavy with the light and being able to translate it into a foot-tapping, infectious contemporary folk sound is what DUG does best. They don’t need to posture; their music is naturally playful and honest, inviting you along on their musical journey.
“Have At It!,” the album, is out now.
Click below for ways to stream/listen to the album.
Listen to DUG
About Claddagh Records
Claddagh Records is an Irish traditional and folk music label and online store based out of Dublin, Ireland. It has long served as a cornerstone in the preservation of traditional Irish music, spoken word, and song. With a catalog that includes legendary artists like The Chieftains, Seamus Heaney, Christy Moore, and Liam O’Flynn, Claddagh Records continues to champion Ireland’s cultural past while ushering in the new wave of Irish music with artists like DUG, Niamh Bury, ØXN, and Lemoncello. In 2021, Claddagh relaunched its online store, CladdaghRecords.com, with the goal of becoming the first stop for Irish traditional and folk music.
Claddagh Records is the official Milwaukee Irish Fest ticket partner.
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