Irish Bands Popular In America

The 2004-formed Celtic Woman is an Irish musical ensemble with all female members. They earned fame in the US with their breakthrough in the mid-2000s.

Their significant success in the United States has been credited to the extensive airing and publicity of a PBS television special titled 'Celtic Woman: A New Journey.'

David Downes and Sharon Browne- formed a musical ensemble's outstanding capability in vocals and performance aspect was televised in the PBS TV special.

Their breakthrough in the US-led Celtic Woman to release a DVD and CD of the same name which proliferated their notability in wide range.

One of the many factors behind their popularity is their music which is a perfect blend of Celtic, contemporary, and classical music.

Likewise, they embarked on several tours across the country which attracted a diverse level of audience. Their success in the states led to multiple album releases like Celtic Woman, A Christmas Celebration, and more.

Undoubtedly, U2 makes it to the list of the best Irish rock bands. Their breakthrough in the US came with the release of their 1987 album The Joshua Tree.

Prior to the release of the aforementioned album, the band had only gained recognition in their homeland and across parts of Europe.

It was the release of their spring 1987 album The Joshua Tree which boasts the credit for their notability in the states. It was truly a turning point in their career.

The album spawned With or Without You, which is one of the classic rock love songs. The impact of the song is still intact to this day.

It was the album's theme touching both personal and political aspects which resonated with the audience, establishing their career in the US.

One of the longest-running bands with original members, U2, solidified their fame in the States with a tour 'The Joshua Tree Tour' promoting the album.

Popular Irish band The Script cemented their name in the American market with their outstanding exhibitions. The band was launched in 2001 in Dublin.

Some of their widely recognized for their hit songs including Hall of Fame, Breakeven, Superheroes, and The Man Who Can't Be Moved to name a few.

One of their famous songs, Breakeven earned positions on the coveted music charts in the U.S., peaking at the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 12.

Likewise, the single from their self-titled first album, Breakeven, from their self-titled first album cumulated the band's Platinum certification from RIAA.

Their unique sound and quality of music are some of the many reasons why they were able to forge their name in the US music industry.

The Cranberries remains one of the most notable Irish bands in America. The band incorporated the elements of rock, dream pop, jangle pop, indie rock, and more.

The second album No Need to Argue and its lead single Zombie boasts the credit for the band's significant popularity in the United States.

In your head, in your head
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie
What's in your head, in your head?
Zombie, zombie, zombie-ie-ie-ie, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, eh-eh-oh, ra-ra

The impact of the aforementioned addictive chorus of the song Zombie remains intact to date. Meanwhile, it has almost 1 billion streams on Spotify.

Zombie and No Need to Argue's success opened doors for the band in the American music scene. Since then, they've never looked back and become a prominent name.

Formed in 1989 as the Cranberry Saw Us, the band was active until 2019. Having said that, they are earned the title of the great bands that are no longer together.

The Dubliners, an Irish folk music band, earned recognition in America besides Europe and Ireland. It was formed as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group in 1962.

Their breakthrough in the States can be attributed to several factors including the inclusion of folk music and roots-based genres.

It piqued the interest of Americans in traditional music. Eventually, it created an opportunity for the band to attract an audience as a folk ensemble.

Likewise, there is a significant Irish-American population with ties to Irish music and culture. This fact contributed to the band's growth in America.

Not to forget, the 1960s and 1970s saw the exchange of culture, leading The Dubliners to propel their notability through their folk music.

Some of their notable songs are Whiskey In a Jar, Rocky Road to Dublin, The Town I Loved So Well, and more.

The 1990-formed band The Corrs' initial success in their home country opened doors for popularity in the US. It was most prevalent during the late 1990s.

Although their fame in the American market might not have reached the level of other acts, the Corrs still did earn significant fame in the US market.

It was their MTV Unplugged performance that aided in introducing them to wider American listeners. Their performance and versatility resonated with the audience.

Likewise, their 2000 album In Blue cemented their name in the American music scene. Correspondingly, the cross-promotions also undoubtedly aided the band in their fame.

Over the years with the continuous release of albums and songs, The Corrs maintained to solidify their name in the market with the help of their loyal fans.

Horslips is an Irish band launched in 1970. Recognized as the founders of the Celtic rock genre, the group has ten studio albums in the catalog.

The band attempted to break into the US music scene by releasing albums in the country. They were able to gain fame in their early days.

It is their blend of rock and traditional Irish elements that set them apart from other bands of their time. Albums like Happy to Meet, Sorry to Part, and more showcased their musical ability.

They did a pretty decent job in penetrating the American market given the fact it was competitive with many already established bands vying for attention.

Having said that, Horslips remains an influential band in Irish music history. Their innovative approach of mixing rock and folk sounds is favored by the US market.

The Pogues, an American Irish band, gained fame through the blend of several musical elements. They were active until 2014 after their reunion in late 2001.

One of the bands from the 80s, the Pogues, achieved a breakthrough in America during the mid-1980s. All thanks to their unique fusion of Celtic, folk, pop, and rock music that led them to prosper their name in the US market.

Likewise, cross-promotion and media exposure through their appearances on several TV shows, music channels, and more also aided in their notability.

One of their notable singles Fairytale of New York from their album If I Should Fall from Grace with God is synonymous with the holiday season.

One of the traditional Irish bands, The Chieftains, is regarded as the beacon that helped popularize Irish music worldwide. The band was launched in 1962.

This band's breakthrough in the United States proliferated its status to international acclaim. Their success played a crucial role in introducing traditional music to the world.

Several collaborations with musicians like the lead singer of The Who band, Roger Daltrey, Emmylou Harris, and more helped them to reach a broad audience.

Likewise, they also performed at various events, TV specials, and music festivals in the States, assisting the Chieftains in earning piquing the interest of Americans.

Irish metal band Mael Mórdha was launched in January 1988. One of their unique aspects is the fusion of doom-metal elements with Irish traditional music.

What attracted the American market to their music was their unique synergy of dark themes of doom metal and traditional folk music.

Likewise, their lyrical themes are drawn from mythology and Irish history reflecting a deep connection to their cultural heritage. This also aided in alluring their attention to their music.

Some of their notable songs are King of the English, Dawning of the Grey, The Doom Of The Races Of Éire, All Eire Will Quake, and more.