Single out now: Madra Salach "Ribbon Factory"

Today, alternative folk Irish six-piece Madra Salach share their new single “Ribbon Factory”, the first new song arriving after a summer that saw them hailed as one of the most exciting live acts on the UK and EU festival circuit.

“Ribbon Factory” will be recognised by those who have seen them live over the past year, and it carries that explosive energy into the recording, as frontman Paul Banks’ explains;

“Ribbon Factory is a song we’ve been particularly excited to share. It feels 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.”

The single was recorded with in-demand producer Loren Humphrey in New York - whose recent other credits include Westside Cowboy’s It Goes On album, as well as Geese and Cameron Winter.

Having made a major impression across the Irish festival scene the previous summer, Madra Salach have taken that momentum to the UK and Europe, delivering standout performances at The Great Escape, End of the Road, Primavera, Latitude, Roskilde, Green Man and many more. Their visceral, hypnotic live show is central to the band’s identity, with audiences and critics alike responding to a sound that brings together traditional Irish music, experimental folk and a raw, contemporary energy.

This week saw the band kickoff their sold-out headline UK tour which includes two nights at London’s Electric Ballroom and Manchester’s New Century Hall as well as shows in Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield, Glasgow, Nottingham and more. The band also recently announced a North American tour selling out 3 shows in New York.

“Ribbon Factory” is the first new song since their debut EP, It’s a Hell of an Age, released in January and reaching No. 3 on the Irish Albums Chart and Top 10 of the UK Official Independent Albums Chart. Both “The Man Who Seeks Pleasure” and “Blue & Gold” were playlisted by BBC 6 Music, while the band also recorded a celebrated Maida Vale live session.

About Madra Salach

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

Madra Salach met whilst playing in different outfits on the city's indie scene and bonded over a shared love of the Irish traditional canon which led to them playing impromptu pub sessions. Taking inspiration from the growing experimental folk scene in Ireland, the group added members, instruments and electronic elements to emerge with their own compositions, which are at the same time strikingly modern and written with a voice that could have emerged at any point throughout the last century.

Their January 26 debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age blended original songs with reimagined traditional material and reached No. 3 in Ireland and the UK Independent Albums Top 10. Now signed to Island Records, Madra Salach are building strong momentum through festival appearances, sold-out Ireland and UK headline tours and collaborations including upcoming album The Songs of Shane MacGowan out November 26 which includes Bruce Springsteen, Primal Scream, Lisa O’Neill among others.