Praise for the River Drivers

“…times may change, but we remain inherently, irrevocably human. And this is human music. So it is important that some artists work to keep traditional music alive and sing the very human songs which mark our history. One such band…the River Drivers, has recently released its debut, self-titled full-length album, and it is certainly one deserving mention.” –No Depression (March 27, 2015)

“…meaty chorus singing… Dubliners territory… these are hearty items… from a band who obviously have a passion for their repertoire.” –fRoots (May 2015, No. 383)

“…incredibly reminiscent of The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl on ‘Fairytale of New York’… the brute male-female tandem of voices with such vivacious melody is addictive. You can’t just let that go.” – The Spill Magazine

Interviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirer

Featured by the United Mine Workers of America

About the River Drivers

Philadelphia-based Celtic-tinged folk rock collective River Drivers is a four-piece band whose unique passion-infused style of music draws from Celtic, Americana, and Appalachian influences and features powerful and distinctive vocals. Influenced by the likes of Billy Bragg, Christy Moore, Ewan MacColl, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Paul McKenna Band and Altan,  among many others, their repertoire strikes a fine balance of original songs and more obscure folk songs, resurrected from deep folk vaults. Their high energy music explores pervasive themes of hard-working people and social justice.

About to release their third album Live at Steelstacks, the River Drivers have played the likes of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Musikfest, the Northern Appalachia Folk Festival, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and Carnegie Hall (the one in West Virginia), along with performances at dozens of venues, festivals, and Irish music sessions both at home and in Ireland.

The band is anchored by Kevin McCloskey (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass) and Mindy Murray (vocals, guitar, banjo, bass) with accompaniment by Marian Moran (tin whistle, low whistle, concertina, melodica) and Meagan Ratini (fiddle, Irish flute, tin whistle).

River Drivers’ distinct flavor of music is a sum of its parts. Kevin McCloskey’s passion for songs portraying the plight of working men and women was kindled by a childhood of performing Irish standards with his father, Irish tenor Tommy McCloskey. The intensity he brings to his music was shaped by years with a hardcore punk band.

Mindy Murray’s works are infused with the music of the mountains and the miners, having witnessed firsthand the struggles of day-to-day life in Appalachia during medical school. Years later, she and daughter Meagan Ratini formed the duo Port Murray. Meagan herself fell into Irish music over many years of mastering instrument after instrument and fortuitously meeting trad players while helping to run the New Jersey Folk Festival.

Marian’s roots lie in Ardara, County Donegal, an epicenter of Irish traditional music. Whenever she can break away, she steals back to the rugged coastline village to recharge at its nightly sessions and music festivals, eventually bringing River Drivers over to perform at its famous Cup of Tae festival.

Photos by Angelo Ratini and Ron Donocoff