The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a gag, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works! Performing songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, The Ramones, The Buzzcocks, The Specials, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! You'll be in for a folky punk treat, this Sunday at The Gov.

The Bad Shepherds have tweaked the songs to emulate a Celtic feel, and even stuck in the odd reel and jig here and there, but occasionally they just thrash! The Shepherds always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk shows live in the 70's.

With Adrian Edmondson on vocals and thrash mandolin, world-renowned Troy Donockley plays the ethereal uillean pipes and the bouzouki with Andy Dinan on the fiddle rounding out the trio who form the core of the band, with occasional guest musicians joining them for a song or two. 

The Bad Shepherds have released two albums, 'Yan Tyan Tethera Methera! in April 2009 and "By Hook or By Crook" in 2010 and toured extensively in 2011 before taking a sabbatical in 2012, whilst Troy the pipe player, went on a world tour with Finish goth metal band Nightwish and Adrian toured with his side project, The Idiot Bastard Band. 2013 will see The Bad Shephers back on the  festival and touring train.

ADRIAN EDMONDSON (Vocals, 'thrash mandolin')
Ade is best known as a comedian in The Young Ones, Bottom, and The Comic Strip Presents. Though he's no stranger to the music world, having played the Monsters of Rock and Reading Festivals with Bad News, the Hootenanny with Jools Holland and Hyde Park with The Who, along with touring with The Bonzo Dog Doo-dah Band. He's also had a No 1 single with Cliff Richard! As a director he has made lots of music videos in the 80's for the likes of The Pogues, Squeeze, Elvis Costello and 10,000 Maniacs.


TROY DONOCKLEY (Uillean pipes, cittern, whistles, vocals)
Troy has built up a formidable reputation as both a Composer/Arranger/ Musician/Performer as well as a leading virtuoso of the Uilleann Pipes. He has released three critically acclaimed solo albums and is a member of Iona, all the while, managing to find time to record and tour with the likes of Maddy Prior (he has co-produced four albums), Barbara Dickson (produced two albums)Maire Brennan (Clannad), Midge Ure, Nightwish, Lesley Garrett ,Roy Harper, Status Quo, Alan Stivell, Del Amitri and many more...

ANDY DINAN (Fiddle)
Andy won the All-Ireland Fiddle Championship... twice. He's best known for playing with Toss the Feathers and Mike McGoldrick, but he's also supported Dervish, Lunasa,Capercaillie and solo artists Martin Hayes and Liz Carroll. He recently performed at the Armagh Pipers Club Festival with Mike and Ian Fletcher with a new project involving Portugese, Brazilian and Irish music.

HOW THE BAD SHEPHERDS CAME TO BE...

Adrian Edmondson was a teenager when punk arrived. The songs of The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Jam and The Stranglers were the soundtrack to his life through the late 70's and early 80's, and like a lot of people of his generation, he was fond of playing these songs to himself at home on his acoustic guitar.  

Cut forward to 2007, post a boozy pre-Christmas lunch in Soho, Ade stumbled along to Denmark Street, home of many alluring musical instrument shops, and whilst inebriated, 'accidentally' bought a mandolin. Surprised to see it sitting there in his kitchen the following morning he nevertheless picked it up, worked out a few chords, and started playing the same songs with a mandolin accompaniment - it sounded really interesting. 

He was touring with the Bonzos at the time and he brought his mandolin along, and with Neil Innes on acoustic guitar, they had a go at London Calling in the dressing room. It sounded good, but Neil said 'What you need are some brilliant folk musicians.'

Ade got in touch with Troy and Maart and they were both immediately up for it. As soon as he explained the idea to Troy: 'Punk songs with a Celtic feel.' Troy replied 'Why not The Model by Krafwerk as well? I've always wanted to play that on the pipes.' 

They met for a couple of days to mess about with the idea. If it didn't work they could all just walk away. But within the first hour they knew they were onto something. In the two days they drank numerous beers, ate 2 curries and arranged 8 songs - and the band was born.

After completing the line up with Andy Dinan on fiddle, they rehearsed hard and towards the end of 2008 they toured England to packed houses and very appreciative audiences.

Check them out online here:

http://www.thebadshepherds.com

http://www.facebook.com/thebadshepherds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvUlEvZ1AkY