Madra Salach Release New Single ‘Ribbon Factory’

One of the highlights of the 2026 festival circuit, Irish folk band Madra Salach release their new single ‘Ribbon Factory’ ahead of their sold-out headline tour

As a live outfit, Madra Salach remain unparalled. Ever since their slot at The Great Escape in an at-capacity Chalk stunned the crowd into silence, they have been building a name for themselves. Few will forget the three sets in one day they performed at End of the Road festival (and the iconic, adorable “boot” moment), in addition to Green Man and Crystal Palace Park with Kneecap, Gurriers, Biig Piig and Fat Dog.

Now they are back with a new single to add to their already released EP ‘It’s a Hell of an Age’ the Irish trad folk outfit drawing on something that the band have been particularly excited to share; feeling “like a stepping stone for us into more lively and punky arrangements. We’ve been playing it live for over a year and that’s really influenced the recording. It’s a uniquely Irish song and is wrought with anger and despair,” according to frontman Paul Banks.

The single was recorded in New York with in-demand producer Loren Humphrey, whose body of work includes Geese, Cameron Winter, and Westside Cowboy’s ‘It Goes On’ album. Like bands like Gurriers, Bleech:93 and more Madra Salach have established themselves as one of the forerunners in the Irish music scene with a unique folk stance that taps into Ireland’s cultural traditions and casts a spellbinding gaze over the audience. It’s a clue as to where the band are going next, in a punk route that allows them to come properly alive - tapping into mythology and lore.

This week begun the band’s sold out headline UK tour which includes two nights at Electric Ballroom in London, and Manchester’s New Century Hall, as well as shows in Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield, Glasgow, Nottingham and more.

They recently announced a North American tour selling out three shows in New York; and have been selected to support Fontaines D.C. with Hayley Williams at the iconic Slane Castle venue. The band will appear on Jools Holland on 25 October.

They are also involved in the upcoming tribute album, The Songs of Shane MacGowan. The record features interpretations of MacGowan’s work by a sprawling cast including Springsteen, Tom Waits, Primal Scream, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Libertines, The Murder Capital, Hozier with Jessie Buckley, Glen Hansard, David Gray, Damien Dempsey, Lisa O’Neill, Imelda May with Johnny Depp, Steve Earle, Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues and Kate Moss.

The single is made available through Island Records.

Madra Salach is Paul Banks (vocals), Adam Cullen (guitar), Jack Martin (mandolin/synth), Maxime Arnold (harmonium), Dara Duffy (drums) and Jack Lawlor (bass)

Listen to the Single Here

Madra Salach Online
Instagram / TikTok / Website

Live Dates
02 OCT - Arts Club, Liverpool (UK) - Sold-Out 
03 OCT - The Grove, Newcastle (UK) - Sold-Out 
05 - OCT - Saint Luke's, Glasgow (UK) - Sold-Out 
06 OCT - New Century Hall, Manchester (UK) - Sold-Out 
07 OCT - Foundry, Sheffield (UK) - Sold-Out 
09 OCT - Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (UK) - Sold-Out 
10 OCT - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (UK) - Sold-Out 
11 OCT - The Bullingdon, Oxford (UK) - Sold-Out 
13 OCT - Electric Ballroom, London (UK) - Sold-Out 
14 OCT - Electric Ballroom, London (UK) - Sold-Out 
03 DEC - Les Transmusicales, Rennes (FR)
05 DEC - Bank Lane, Waterford (IE) - Sold-Out 
06 DEC - Dolans, Limerick (IE) - Sold-Out 
10 DEC - Vicar Street Dublin, Dublin (IE) - Sold-Out 
11 DEC - Mandela Hall, Belfast (UK) - Sold-Out 
12 DEC - Leisureland, Galway (IE) - Sold-Out 
17 DEC - Set Theatre, Kilkenny (IE) - Sold-Out 
18 DEC - Cyprus Avenue, Cork (IE) - Sold-Out 
19 DEC - Cyprus Avenue, Cork (IE) Sold-Out 
08 JAN - Rockaway Beach, Bognor Regis (UK)
26 JUN - Slane Castle, County Meath (IE) (supporting Fontaines D.C.)
27 JUN - Slane Castle, County Meath (IE) (supporting Fontaines D.C.) 

Photocredit Emily Lipson