Madra Salach

Madra Salach makes VEGA swoon over with euphoria and Irish folklore

Madra Salach have created a massive hype on the international music scene with their experimental approach to classical Irish folk music. In their sonic universe, elements of synth, ambient, heavy drones, distortion and crackling electronica merge in a wondrous way.

On January 15, their long-awaited debut album, Gorta, will be released on the legendary record label Island Records.

The album is about heritage and what we carry with us from previous generations. The record has deep roots in Irish folk music, but at the same time moves into a darker, more experimental and contemporary musical territory.

Frontman Paul Banks delivers powerful and immersive vocal performances, and the band is known for creating magical concert experiences where Irish folklore and mysticism are mixed with a good dose of “tounge-in-cheek” humour.

The band has warmed up for the mighty city kids of Fontaines D.C. and has played a myriad of major festivals. For example, at this year's Roskilde Festival, where GAFFA awarded five stars and wrote:

'And it should turn out that the dinner concert, featuring one of the latest shots at the strain of Irish neo-folk bands, would become a mixture of light-hearted banter and grave-serious, melancholy music, which is a fundamental part of the folk music tradition from the British Isles. '

In 2026, the band released their critically acclaimed debut EP It's a Hell of an Age, which topped the Irish Independent Album Chart.

With hits like “Ribbon Factory” and their reinterpretation of the folk song “Spancil Hill,” the band has broken through the wall of sound and positioned itself, as one of the most promising bands on the exuberant Irish neo-folk scene. On February 5, you can experience them in Lille VEGA.