Big in Beijing, Massive in Middlesbrough, waiting for the world.
The Wildcats of Kilkenny have remained one of the North East’s most favourite live bands. Formed over ten years ago, the band have taken their infectious brand of irreverent Irish slamming music throughout the UK and beyond. High octane playing; non-stop jumping and the very Teesside, observational humour of the wildcats make their show enjoyable for all.
Essentially a fiddle led, frenzied party, the wildcats feature piano, double bass, drums and grating vocals – and blast through a repertoire ranging from traditional irish jigs, to singalongs, to football anthems and beyond. The band becomes just about as big as the numbers in the audience as even the most timid voyeur find their voice amidst the wildcat melee!
The wildcats are party. Their energy is infectious – and dangerously happy. Ten years on they show no signs of stopping getting jiggy with it. And the world always seems a brighter place when they’ve been to town.
1993 Wildcats are formed. First gig as ‘The Barnyard Boogie Boys’ at Egglescliffe Village Hall, Cleveland. Quickly changed the name in order to get a gig at Tyneside Irish Festival and because the other one was rubbish. Chose the name in reference to The Pogues instrumental track of the same name and mike’s best friend, Oliver Maher – a priest in Kilkenny. Members : Mike, Bruce, Martin, Maccy, Jez.
1994 Support band at Newcastle Mayfair’s Mother of All Parties for St Patrick’s Night. Went on to be selected to play at Heineken Music Festival at Gateshead Stadium. Numerous festival and student gigs followed.
1997 Short Break in the band’s life.
1998 Reformed and took full advantage of the birth of Irish Theme pubs. Invited to play at Cork Intl Festival. Big Fiddle tour – 100’s of young musicians in rural areas became wildcats for the day to regenerate village hall culture. New Drummer – Simon joins the band.
1999 Visited Holland and Belgium. Hogmany in Edinburgh.
2000 Headlined Spectacular New Years’ Eve gig at Newcastle’s Quayside
2001 Festivals, parties and more… EP, ‘4’ released.
2002 Donegal, Ireland. First album, ‘How to Juggle’ released.
2003 Invited to play Beijing – New Year in China in front of 100,000 people. Front page feature in China News - the world’s biggest circulated newspaper. Tours of arts centres and irish festivals. St Paddy’s Event sells out town hall Middlesbrough.
2004 Constant gigging / Finale act at SIRF in Stockton on Tees, 75,000 people. Headline, Middlesbrough Music Live, support act, Bob Geldof. Headline, Tyneside Irish Festival. University tours. St Paddy’s Event sells out town hall Middlesbrough – the only ‘local band’ to achieve the feat 2 years running.
2005 Slight pause for babies and weddings! Invited back to China for Beijing Festivals and venues across the city in January 2006. St Paddy’s event moves to bigger venue – 1200. Maccy leaves the band to concentrate on more serious things! Danny Allinson joins on Keyboards and Percussion.
2006 New Album planned along with festival and arts centre appearances. Website completed,www.wildcatsofkilkenny.com
2007 God only knows...
Hope you are SURVIVING these crazy economic times! Enjoy our new video "Whiskey Tonight" and stop by our site for a FREE download of the new song. Yes, something for FREE. * * Cheers!
now the slicing and dicing is done am looking forward to 10th Oct!! Apparently Guiness is a really good painkiller....i totally intent to put the theory to the test lol!!
hey you played an amazing set at MML. easily the best band there. I'm chris I played bass for Sammy when she supported you at the Arc Beer Festival gig.
One of the best live bands I've ever seen/heard/sang to.
![.*.[God!].*.](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/30/s_947bcd61bda245bd81af87d22251cf0d.jpg)
