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Kevin McCloskey
- Philadelphia, PA
- Irish / Scottish Entertainment
- Travels up to 150 miles
- $200 and up
Overview
With a repertoire of over 200 Irish, American, and Celtic songs, I can tailor my performance to suit the needs of any occasion, whether it's an intimate gathering or a large festival. I've had the privilege of playing at many folk festivals, including the legendary Philadelphia Folk Festival, as well as touring both Ireland and the U.S. I play Irish music year-round, not just on Saint Patrick's Day, bringing the rich traditions of Irish folk music to a wide variety of events throughout the year.
1 Review
We arranged for Kevin and his fantastic fiddler friend, Steve, to arrive and deliver an impromptu Irish serenade of sorts for my Dad, a lifetime enthusiast of Irish culture and music. We coordinated this birthday celebration with a local restaurant and managed to pull off the surprise for everyone there. Later on, many nearby guests thanked us for providing their evening’s entertainment, and what excellent Irish entertainment we were all treated to, thanks to the two of them!
In no time at all and smack-dab in the middle of the shared main dining room space, Kevin and Steve completely transformed the space, filling it with the emotional richness and merriment of beguiling Irish folk tunes. Kevin sings in an impressive brogue, and his guitar paired with an extremely talented and dexterous fiddler put smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts.
No songs were pre-planned, but I was impressed that they were able to honor vague requests for ‘songs from the Quiet Man.’ One must also be prepared for amazement, as the way Kevin speaks and the way he sings are very different from one another. It’s clear that his speaking accent did not originate from Kilkenny, but when the music starts, you genuinely feel surrounded by the lush green fields of Ireland. He transports you!
In all, Kevin made the whole surprise event easy to coordinate, was great to correspond with, and we were overjoyed with the performance that he and Steve provided. We highly recommend working with him!
Irish / Scottish Entertainment
Response from Kevin McCloskey:
Jessica, thank you for your review! It was an absolute pleasure to play for your family, especially your father! Cheers!
Photos from this event
Booking Info
Price Range: $200 and up
Gig Length: 10 - 240 minutes
Languages: English
What to Expect
Clients can expect a captivating and emotionally resonant performance from Kevin McCloskey, whose music blends the raw intensity of Irish and Americana folk with heartfelt storytelling. As the frontman of The River Drivers, McCloskey brings a dynamic energy to the stage, known for delivering "raise the roof" performances that combine powerful narratives with the soulful sound of Celtic and Americana traditions. Drawing from his deep musical roots and influences such as Christy Moore, The Dubliners, Bob Dylan, and more, McCloskey’s performances are both passionate and rich in cultural depth. In addition to his lively shows, McCloskey also performs at significant life events, offering folk songs and an emotional presence that suits weddings, birthdays, funerals, and wakes. Whether celebrating joyous occasions or marking more somber moments, he uses his music to connect with audiences, creating a meaningful atmosphere that reflects the emotions of the day.
About
Kevin McCloskey, a singer-songwriter from Bristol, Pennsylvania, fronts the band The River Drivers, with whom he has released three albums. Their latest, “Live at Steal Stacks”, has received substantial attention and heavy airplay on folk radio shows nationwide.
McCloskey’s passion for music that reflects the struggles of the working class began in his youth, performing Irish standards with his father, Irish tenor Tommy McCloskey. Influenced by artists like Luke Kelly and the Dubliners, the Wolfe Tones, Christy Moore, Pete Seeger and more, McCloskey’s music blends Irish and Americana sounds with raw conviction and intensity.
Irish Music Magazine describes his work with the River Drivers as “an energy source of Celtic and Americana soaked sound,” while the United Mine Workers of America commended their songs for their powerful narratives that capture the harsh realities and resilience of ordinary people. TradConnect praised The River Drivers’ performances as “a late night, raise the roof type outing, delivered with an energy fitting to such occasions.”
In addition to his recording career, McCloskey leads a lively weekly Irish ballad session at Fergie’s Pub in Philadelphia, PA. Through his music, he continues to shed light on working-class experiences, driven by a commitment to storytelling, tradition, and emotional depth.
Additional Booking Notes
Stage or Performance Area:
A well-lit and stable area with enough room for the performer, their equipment, and any required space for movement.
Services Offered
Past Booked Events
| December 14, 2024 • 7:00pm - 7:30pm | Birthday Party |
Set List
A Sample of my songbook (by no means extensive. always happy to learn a new song):
A Pair of Brown Eyes
All for Me Grog
Allende
Angel of Death
Arthur McBride
The Auld Triangle
Back Home in Derry
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Banks of Marble
the Bard of Armagh
Barrett’s Privateers
Belfast Mill
Between the Wars
Black is the Color
Black Velvet Band
Bold Fenian Men
The Bold O'Donaghue
The Bonny Light Horseman
Botany Bay
Both Sides the Tweed
The Boys from Killibegs
Boys of the Old Brigade
Bright Blue Rose
Broad Majestic Shannon
Building up and tearing England
The Butcher Boy
Caledonia
Carrickfergus
Children’s March (Ode toMother
Jones)
Clare to Here
Cockles and Mussels
Come All You Brave United Men
Come By the Hills
Come Out Ye Black and Tans
Connolly Was There
The Contender
Cousin Jack
Crooked Jack
Cumann na mBan
The Death of Mother Jones
Deportees
Dirty Old Town
Donal Og
Donnegal Danny
Don’t Think Twice
Down by the Glenside
Down by the Liffeyside
Down by the Sally Garden
Dublin In My Tears
Dublin in the Rare Old Times
Duffy’s Cut
The Dutchmen
Dying Rebel
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Eileen Og
Erin Go Bragh/ Lilting Banshee
Fairytale of NY
Farewell To Carlingford
Farewell to Ireland
Farewell to Nova Scotia
Fiddler’s Green
Fields of Athenry
Finnegan’s Wake
The Foggy Dew
Forty Shades of Green
Four Green Fields
Gallipoli
The Galtee Mountain Boy
Galway Bay
Galway Girl
Galway Races
Galway Shawl
Gentle Annie
Give the Fiddler a Dram
God and the Devil
Going Once Going Twice
The Golden Vanity’
Grace
Gypsy Rover
Hand Me Down My Bible
Hard Times Come Again
Henry Joy
Hey Ho
Hills of Connmara
Hills of Donnegal
Hobo’s Lullabye
Home by Bearna
Hot Asphalt
The House Carpenter (Deamon Lover)
I Ain’t A Marchin’ Anymore
I Ain’t Got No Home
I am a Union Woman
If Ever You were Mine
If I Had A Hammer
If I Should Fall Form Grace
I’ll Tell Me Ma
In the City of Chicago
Irene, Goodnight
The Irish Rover
Isle of Innesfree
Isle of St Helena
It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go
Jackets Green
Jackie Tarr
James Connolly
Jeannie C
Jesus Christ (Jesse James)
Jim Larkin
Joe Hill
John Jones
Johnny And the Latern
Jug of Punch
Jute Mill Song
Kelly the Boy from Killane
Kesh Jig
The lakes of Pontchartrain
The Leaving of Liverpool
Little Maggie
Liverpool Lou
Long Haired Preacher
Look at the Coffin
Lord of the Dance
Maid Behind the Bar / Cooley’s
Manchester Rambler
The Mary Ellen Carter
Matty Groves
McAlpine’s Fusiliers
McIlhatton
The Men Behind the Wire
The Mermaid
Midnight Special
The Minstrel Boy
Missing You
Molly Maquires (Make Way For)
Moonshiner
Moonshiner ( Clancy bros)
The Mountain
Move it Over
Muirshin Durkin
My Irish Molly-O
My Youngest Son Came Home Today
Natives
Ninety Miles From Dublin
The Night Visiting Song
No Ash Will Burn
No Man’s Land
No Time for Love
Only Our Rivers Run Free
Ordinary Man
Paddy on the Canal
The Parting Glass
Pastures of Plenty
Pat on the Railroad
The Patriot Game
Peace in the Valley
The Peat Bog Soldiers
Peggy Gordon
Pride of Petrovore (See Eileen Og)
A Pound a week Rise
The Preacher in the Sky
Quiet Desperation
Raglan Road
Raggle Taggle Gypsy
Rainy Night in Soho
Rattlin’ Bog
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
The Rebel Girl
Red is the Rose
Ride On
The River Saile
Rock on Rockall
Rocky Road to Dublin
Rocky Top
Roddy McCorley
Rosin the Beau
St Anne’s Reel
Salonika
Sam Hall
Schooldays Over
Sean Connoly (Kevin)
Shady Groves
She Moved through the Fair
Slievenamon
Sons of Molly
Spancil Hill
The Spanish Lady
Steal Away
Streams of Whiskey
Swallowtail Jig/ Morrison’s Jig
Take me home to Mayo
The Tennessee Waltz
There is Power in a Union
These Are My Mountains
Thirty Foot Trailer
This Land is your land
The Town I Loved So Well
Union Man
The Unquiet Grave
Vive la Quinta Brigade
The Water is Wide
Wayfaring Stranger
The Wearing of the Green
Weile Waile (see River Saile)
What Child is This
What Shall We Do with a Drunken
Sailor
Whiskey in the Jar
Whiskey Nancy Whiskey
Whistling Gypsy Rover
The Wild Colonial Boy
Wild Mountain Thyme
The Wild Rover
The Worker’s Song
Influences & Inspiration
The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem, Phil Ochs, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Stan Rogers, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Ewan MacColl, the Pogues
Setup Requirements
Grounded Power Outlet
Canopy or Shade if out door performance