SOLAS 30th Anniversary Tour – Sunday March 22, 7pm Doors, 8PM show, Boulder Theatre, 2032 14th St, Boulder, CO 80302. Special Guests: Moors & McCumber. Direct link:
https://www.z2ent.com/events/detail/solas-2026-bt
March 20, 7:30pm, Rialto Theater and March 21 7:30pm Lonetree.
Solas is lighting up stages across the globe as they celebrate three decades of pushing boundaries and honoring traditions in Irish music. Hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced,” and by The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness,” Solas continues to captivate audiences with their spellbinding musicianship and genre-defying creativity.
Formed in New York City in 1995, Solas quickly rose to prominence as a revolutionary force in Irish-American music. The very first iteration of Solas brought together a lineup of extraordinary talent including multi-instrumentalist Séamus Egan, fiddler Winifred Horan, vocalist Karan Casey, guitarist John Doyle, and accordionist John Williams. Together, they redefined the Celtic sound for a new generation, weaving traditional Irish tunes with elements of folk, bluegrass, Americana, and contemporary songwriting.
Now, with twelve critically acclaimed albums and a reputation for dynamic, emotionally charged live performances, Solas has set new standards for musicianship, repertoire, and intensity. Their debut album Solas (1996) established a bold new voice in traditional music, and each subsequent release has showcased the band’s remarkable ability to tell stories that resonate across time and cultures.
Among their most ambitious works is the 2013 concept album Shamrock City, a deeply personal project inspired by Egan’s great-great-uncle, who immigrated from Ireland to the mining town of Butte, Montana in the early 1900s. The album is a powerful meditation on immigrant identity, labor struggles, and lost dreams, and it solidified Solas’ reputation as not only virtuosic musicians but evocative storytellers.
Their 2016 release, All These Years, marked the band’s 20th anniversary and featured contributions from every past and present member. It was both a celebration of their journey and a showcase of their creative evolution.
While the band has seen various lineup changes over the years, the spirit of innovation and reverence for Irish tradition has remained constant. As Solas takes to the road for this milestone tour, they’re joined by a stellar lineup that honors the band’s legacy while lighting the way forward.
Founding members Seamus Egan, Winifred Horan, and John Williams are joined by guitarist Alan Murray and – depending on the night! – audiences will be treated to the luminous vocals and flute work of Irish folk star Nuala Kennedy or the genre-defying brilliance of multi-instrumentalist and vocal polyglot Moira Smiley. Each performance promises its own unique magic, as these world-class artists breathe new life into the band’s rich and ever-evolving soundscape