The Dubliners Encore – Glasgow Pavillion

As soon as I saw there was a tribute show called The Dubliners Encore, the decision was made.

Ticket purchased.

No hesitation required.

The Dubliners are one of my favourite bands of all time and, in my opinion, one of the greatest groups of the last century. Yes, they were masters of Irish folk music, but what made them truly special was something deeper than musicianship alone.

They had soul.

They also possessed a glorious lack of concern for what anyone thought of them. There was an authenticity about The Dubliners that couldn’t be manufactured. They sang the songs they wanted to sing, told the stories they wanted to tell and carried themselves with a confidence that came from knowing exactly who they were.

That spirit still resonates today.

Among their vast catalogue, two songs have always stood out for me.

Raglan Road and Scorn Not His Simplicity.

Luke Kelly’s performances of both remain among the most moving recordings I’ve ever heard. His voice had an emotional power that could stop you in your tracks and those songs, in particular, showcased everything that made him such an extraordinary singer.

So the chance to hear them performed live, even by a tribute act, was something I was genuinely looking forward to.

The band did a tremendous job throughout the evening.

Rather than simply impersonating The Dubliners, they captured the spirit of the music, which is far more important. The songs were delivered with warmth, humour and respect, and the audience responded accordingly.

There was plenty of singing along.

Plenty of laughter.

And more than a few moments where you could almost imagine yourself transported back to a smoky folk club listening to the originals.

Then came Raglan Road.

Unfortunately, the timing was impeccable for all the wrong reasons.

Just as one of the greatest Irish songs ever written was unfolding, a roar erupted from parts of the audience.

Scotland had scored against Denmark.

Under normal circumstances, interrupting Raglan Road would be grounds for immediate expulsion from the building, but given that the goal secured Scotland’s qualification for the World Cup, I suppose it was understandable.

Just about.

The interruption actually added a strange sense of occasion to the evening. One memorable moment colliding unexpectedly with another.

The band embraced it in good humour and, recognising the mood in the room, chose to finish the evening with Flower of Scotland.

It was the perfect choice.

The crowd sang every word with considerable enthusiasm, celebrating both the football result and a wonderful evening of music.

Looking back, it was exactly the sort of night I had hoped for. Great songs, great musicians and a room full of people united by a shared love of music and storytelling.

The Dubliners left behind a remarkable legacy and The Dubliners Encore paid tribute to it beautifully.

The videos below capture some of the evening, including performances of many of the classics that have kept these songs alive for generations.

And yes, somewhere in the middle of Raglan Road, you’ll probably hear Scotland qualifying for the World Cup.