On Wednesday night, August 5, Dropkick Murphys brought their energetic brand of Celtic punk to Prague’s Areál 7 as part of the Prague Open Air concert series. Even though the country is in the middle of a heat wave, fans showed up and showed out, sweaty and smiling, for a night of great music.
Irish Oi! punk band An Slua opened the night, playing to a lawn filling up with people decked out in green. An Slua literally means “the crowd” or “the people” in Gaelic, a fitting name for their dynamic musical style. Lead vocalist Mic Mac Cana was constantly encouraging the audience to get involved.
The band’s songs are incredibly political and focus on anti-fascist messages, which heavily resonated with the crowd in Prague considering today’s political climate around the world. An Slua served as the perfect opener to an evening full of energy, political nuance, and Celtic rock.
By the time the Dropkick Murphys took the stage, the lawn was full, as was the glo balcony structure in the back for fans who wanted an aerial view. As soon as they stepped onstage, lead singer Ken Casey and guitarist Jeff DaRosa were hyping fans up as the sound of the bagpipes set the tone for the rest of the evening.
Casey got up close and personal right from the start, stepping right up to the barricade and holding the microphone out for fans to sing right along with him. Highlights from the beginning of their set were “The Boys Are Back” and, of course, their ode to their hometown: “The State of Massachusetts.” The mosh pit opened at the front of the stage, people rushing around in their kilts and green getups.
Fans of all ages were moving to the music, with a few kids with four-leaf clovers painted on their cheeks enjoying the view of the stage from atop their parents’ shoulders. The classic folk song “Dirty Old Town” also made an appearance, transforming the lawn into a singalong from front to back.
Casey also took some time to pay homage to the great musicians we’ve lost recently, most notably Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who died in a car crash just last week. When they played “One Last Goodbye ‘Tribute to Shane,’” the song originally intended as a tribute to the late Shane McGowan of The Pogues doubled as a tribute to Hansard.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Dropkick Murphys show without a little politics. The band is famous for speaking out against fascism and authoritarianism, supporting unions and the working class, and confronting issues like corporate greed and right-wing politics head on. This show in Prague was no different: Casey took some time to call out politicians like Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, and many more, imploring the crowd to unite and fight back against the oppressive regimes present in the world today. And with that, he dedicated the next song to Donald Trump himself: “First Class Loser.”
The second half of the show was nonstop energy, with “Fiending For The Lies” and “Worker’s Song” being some of the highlights. At one point, Casey addressed the crowd to dedicate the next song “to the ladies,” urging men to stay out of the mosh pit for this one before launching into “Rose Tattoo.”
And just when it looked like they were about to pack up their instruments and head off stage, Casey stepped to the front of the barricade and screamed “you want more?”, met with loud cheers from the crowd. They brought out An Slua for the encore, with the musicians sharing dances and microphones on the stage for the final moments of the show.
The sense of camaraderie both on the stage and in the crowd on Wednesday night was unmatched. From the kids there with their parents to the people dressed in full Celtic folk costume, it was clear everyone was there to immerse themselves in a night of great music and community, and Dropkick Murphys certainly delivered. The band fostered a close relationship with the crowd all night, with Casey never straying too far from the barricade and even coming down to take photos with fans after the final song ended.
If you’re looking for a Celtic punk party, we can’t recommend a Dropkick Murphys show enough.
There’s still a chance to catch the band on tour throughout Europe before they head back stateside in September and down to Australia in November. Tickets to all upcoming dates are available here.
DROPKICK MURPHYS TOUR DATES:
Aug. 9 – Landerneau, France @ Fete de Bruit
Aug. 12 – Bellaria-Igea Marina, Italy @ Beky Bay
Aug. 13 – Tolmin, Slovenia @ Punk Rock Holiday
Aug. 14 – Graz, Austria @ Freiluftarena B
Aug. 15 – Leipzig, Germany @ Highfield Festival
Aug. 16 – Winterthur, Switzerland @ Musikfestwochen
Aug. 19 – Vilar de Mouros, Portugal @ CA Vilar de Mouros 2026
Sep. 5 – Pryor, Oklahoma @ Rocklahoma
Sep. 23 – Highland, California @ Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Oct. 3 – Columbia, Maryland @ Power to the People (sold out)
Nov. 21 – Christchurch, New Zealand @ Wolfbrook Arena*
Nov. 24 – Auckland, New Zealand @ Spark Arena*
Nov. 26 – Melbourne, Australia @ John Cain Arena*
Nov. 28 – Gosford, Australia @ The Entertainment Grounds Meltdown*
Nov. 29 – Brisbane City, Australia @ Riverstage*
Dec. 1 – Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House Forecourt*
Dec. 4 – Perth, Australia @ Red Hill Auditorium*
*With Rise Against
FOLLOW DROPKICK MURPHYS: Instagram // Website // Spotify
FOLLOW AN SLUA: Instagram // Bandcamp
