Gary Óg will return to Australia in October for five performances across Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth, revisiting the repertoire that has defined his three-decade career in Irish rebel and folk music.
by Paul Cashmere
Scottish-born Irish folk singer Gary Óg will return to Australia in October 2026 for a five-date national tour, with performances scheduled for Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. The tour begins at the Irish Club in Adelaide on October 9 and concludes at Lynott’s Lounge in Perth on October 18, continuing a long association between the Glasgow-based singer and Australian audiences.
The Australian dates place Gary Óg’s solo career in the context of a musical history that stretches back to the early 1990s, when he became known as the frontman of Glasgow Irish rebel band Éire Óg. The group developed a following around its forceful interpretations of traditional Irish material and politically charged songs, with Gary Óg’s guitar and vocals central to the band’s sound.
Éire Óg’s recorded legacy includes Live At The Brazen Head, originally released in 1998, followed by Live At Tully’s in 1999. The band’s catalogue remains available through streaming services, where the recordings continue to connect Gary Óg’s early work with his subsequent solo career.
For the October Australian shows, the focus will be on Gary Óg’s established repertoire and his interpretation of Irish folk and rebel music. His catalogue encompasses traditional songs, historical material and original recordings, with titles including “Farewell To Bellaghy”, “Back Home In Derry”, “Irish Soldier Laddie”, “Mairéad Farrell” and “Kevin Barry”.
His recording of “James Connolly – Irish Citizen Army” has become one of the most prominent tracks associated with his solo catalogue. Connolly, the Irish socialist and revolutionary leader, has long been a subject of songs within the Irish political folk tradition, and Gary Óg’s recording sits alongside his interpretations of other historical figures and events.
Gary Óg’s background is closely connected to Glasgow’s Irish immigrant community. He grew up in the Gorbals, an area with a substantial Irish population, where traditional Irish music formed part of the cultural environment around him. He has cited Bob Dylan and Christy Moore among his musical influences, alongside the traditional ballads of Irish history and freedom.
That background informed the formation of Éire Óg, whose music combined traditional folk structures with a harder-edged band approach. The group emerged during a politically turbulent period in Northern Ireland and developed a repertoire that addressed Irish republican history and politics. Its live recordings document the intensity of that period, with songs including “Bring Them Home”, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “Joe McDonnell” and “Boys Of The Old Brigade / Crumlin Road Jail”.
Following Éire Óg’s run, Gary Óg continued as a solo performer and has toured extensively through Europe, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. His solo recordings have included Songs Of Rebellion, released in 2003, The Rebel Collective Podcast Recordings, Vol. 1 from 2020, and a series of live recordings associated with McCormick’s.
Australia has been a recurring destination throughout his solo career. Previous Australian visits have included extensive touring through major cities and smaller venues, establishing a connection with audiences drawn to Irish folk music and the wider Celtic live circuit.
The 2026 visit comes as intimate venue touring remains an important part of the Australian folk market. Rather than a large theatre production, Gary Óg’s five-date run is concentrated in established music and Irish community venues, placing the performances within the pub, club and folk circuit that has traditionally supported this style of music.
The October dates also give audiences an opportunity to hear material spanning the Éire Óg years and Gary Óg’s subsequent solo recordings. While his repertoire is rooted in a particular historical and political tradition, the songs continue to function as part of the broader Irish folk canon performed internationally.
Tour Dates
Friday 9 October 2026, Adelaide, Irish Club
Saturday 10 October 2026, Melbourne, Jimmy O’Neills
Sunday 11 October 2026, Brisbane, Lefty’s Music Hall
Saturday 17 October 2026, Sydney, The Grand Hotel Bondi
Sunday 18 October 2026, Perth, Lynott’s Lounge
Ticket Details
Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here
Be the first to see NOISE11.com’s newest interviews and special features on YouTube. See things first-Subscribe to Noise11 on YouTube
Follow Noise11.com on social media:
Facebook – Comment on the news of the day
