The Mary Wallopers have announced their return to Australia, as well as their New Zealand debut, following the release of their new album, Paddywhackery.
The Irish folk outfit will kick off their tour in Christchurch, before heading across the Tasman for four huge theatre shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Last year, The Mary Wallopers made global headlines after a staffer at the Victorious Festival in Southsea, England, walked onto the stage after one minute of music and took down the Palestinian flag the band had hung on an amp stack.
A videographer recorded the entire ordeal, showing band members requesting the return of the flag, leading the audience in a “Free Palestine” chant, and then having their sound abruptly cut off. Other bands, including The Last Dinner Party, quit the festival in solidarity with The Mary Wallopers, while Saturday headliners The Vampire Weekend issued a statement of support.
Festival promoters later released a statement accusing the band of making a “discriminatory chant,” which was retracted after the band posted video evidence that this never happened.
The band’s founder Andrew Hendy spoke with Rolling Stone AU/NZ last year about the incident. He said: “I think there’s a very clear video of exactly what happened there, and I think it’s important to realise that all over the world, particularly the western world, people are trying to play down what’s happened in Palestine, they’re trying to hide it.”
“To be honest, we always played with a Palestinian flag on stage for the last five or six years. We’ve always been vocal about it, standing up for what’s right.
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“They’re trying to put on music festivals and events that are supposed to be fun, [promoters] book rebellious bands like us or outspoken bands like us, and then expect us to not say anything and hide what’s happening to the listeners and to the general public.
“And I just think it’s important to stay educated on what’s happening in Palestine, and the murder we are watching unfold in Palestine, and even look back into what’s been happening to the people of Palestine for years upon years upon years even before any of this war started.”
Frontier Members can get early access to tickets for the upcoming tour via the Members’ presale, which will begin on Friday, October 9th from 11am (local time) and will run for 24 hours or until presale allocation is exhausted. Check out the tour details below, and for information about tickets, click here.
THE MARY WALLOPERS – PADDYWHACKEY LIVE 2027
Saturday, May 15th
James Hay Theatre, Christchurch, NZ
Tuesday, May 18th
The Tivoli, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, May 21st
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, May 22nd
Forum, Melbourne, VIC
Tuesday, May 25th
Metropolis Fremantle, Perth, WA
