Kelly’s Wayke: Celtic Dreaming
Celtic folk-rock collective Kelly’s Wayke have kicked off the year in a big way, performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and taking out The Golden Fiddle Award for The Best Band with a Fiddle in 2025. We got the chance to chat with lead vocalist and bodhrán player Damien Kelly about the band’s beginnings, recent success and future plans.
Words by Tobias Handke
Image supplied
Kelly’s Wayke are arguably South Australia’s premier Irish folk-rock act. The eight-piece collective, comprising Mae Traeger (fiddle, vocals), Gage Stead (mandolin, vocals), Paddy Kelly (bass, vocals), Paul Cooper (banjo, vocals), Carl Pink (guitar, vocals), Barry Evans (drums), Emma Hinchey (piano accordion, vocals) and Damien Kelly (lead vocals, bodhrán), have been entertaining crowds with their foot-stomping take on Irish classics and their own originals for many years.
Evoking the spirit of the Emerald Isle with every note, Kelly’s Wayke has just completed a run of interstate shows, culminating in the band being awarded The Best Band with a Fiddle at The Golden Fiddle Awards 2025.
With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, we got the chance to ask Kelly’s Wayke lead vocalist Damien Kelly a few questions about how the band got started, what it’s like performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival and what the rest of 2025 has in store for the group.
For those not familiar with Kelly’s Wayke, explain what the band are all about.
Kelly’s Wayke is about celebrating life. We play a range of old traditional songs (some around 250 years old), contemporary tunes and original compositions. We try and bring the real Irish experience of an actual Irish wake to our audiences.
The band formed after an Irish wake. Can you expand on the origins of Kelly’s Wayke and how the band came to be?
We were having a wake for a friend Mick Murphy in a small function room next to the front bar at the Enfield Hotel. For about five or six hours we’d been drinking and playing these old Irish songs that our parents had taught us when we were growing up. These songs would always be played on the occasion of somebody’s passing or at the wake.
After a while, the publican came in from the front bar and we thought he was going to kick us out for being too loud and too drunk so we all started apologising. Then he said, “No, we turned off the jukebox hours ago and we’ve been listening to you guys all night! The whole front bar loved it!”
I phoned Brian Murphy and Paddy Kelly the next morning and Kelly’s Wayke was born. We thought instead of just playing these songs at wakes, we should share them with everyone and that’s how it all happened.
What is it about Celtic music that inspires you? What’s your connection with the music?
Irish music brings a lot of joy to people with lovely stories – some sad, some happy but always uplifting, whatever the circumstances. It’s a very community-based culture and the music allows everyone to sing, play or even hum along. Our heritage is from Ireland and our parents kept that vein running strong through our years of growing up. They would play Irish reels on the piano when we played musical chairs at different celebrations.
The band has been playing for many years around SA and Australia. Why do you think people connect with Irish and Celtic music?
People look for joy in their lives, something to take away all their troubles for a short period of time, and Kelly’s Wayke or Irish music definitely offers that release. It can help people refocus on what’s important in life – family, friends and harmony.
What sets Kelly’s Wayke apart from similar bands playing Irish and Celtic music?
Kelly’s Wayke not only plays the old traditional songs but we’ve also written and recorded two studio albums (Kelly’s Wayke and Fallen from Grace) of original songs. The thing that sets Kelly’s Wayke apart from the rest of the bands of similar ilk is the seven singers. There is a lot of singing. Everyone in Kelly’s Wayke sings one or two songs – except Barry the drummer – so there’s lots of harmony and variation in each song. It’s really different and the audience never gets bored with the same vocal sounds. It’s beautiful to behold!
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You’ve just returned from performing interstate, including taking the stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. What was that experience like?
Playing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival was amazing! We had a residency for five days along with several side shows. When we started the residency the room was about half full but by the time we started the last show the club was packed to the rafters and everyone was having an absolute ball. We had the most awesome time and painted Tamworth green! To be sure!
Did you get the chance to catch any other bands and the festival, and if so, who impressed?
We didn’t get a lot of time to see other acts but the band that played after us at the club (The Mezcaltones) were fantastic. There were so many buskers and all of them in their own right were fantastic.
Kelly’s Wayke also took out The Golden Fiddle Award for The Best Band with a Fiddle in 2025. That must have been a welcome surprise.
We were absolutely blown away! Totally unexpected but so happy they bestowed such a great and prestigious honour on Kelly’s Wayke. We were very grateful and extremely humbled by the award.
Although you don’t play music for awards, it must be great recognition for your efforts and give you a buzz.
It’s the first time we’ve ever won anything and to be decorated with such a great award is beyond our wildest dreams. We can’t believe it and are still pinching ourselves!
Any more big shows coming up? No doubt you have something special lined up for St. Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Day at The Gov is a very special day! To celebrate the most important day on the Irish calendar at one of the most Iconic venues in Australia, it’s amazing. Not only is Kelly’s Wayke playing but also some other great Irish bands including Craic & the Cratur and Timlin’s Green. There’ll be Irish dancers, Irish pipers, Jo Hall (MC) and much more Irish stuff. It’s gonna be huge!
We are also performing in Victoria as part of The Koroit Irish Festival in April and at Mt. Beare Bush Dance in Mt Compass in May.
Finally, what else is on the agenda in 2025 for Kelly’s Wayke?
Kelly’s Wayke has just finished recording our third studio album, Stranger than Folk, due for release later this year. Kelly’s Wayke has always wanted to go and play in Ireland so you never know, just keep following us here. And the most important thing to remember is to celebrate life!
Catch Kelly’s Wayke at the Big Irish Festival at The Gov on Monday, March 17. Tickets on sale now via Oztix.
