Music at Madden’s #032 – Ye Vagabonds | Recording Live, Favourite Albums & Why Meaning Matters
Music At Maddens PodcastShow Notes
In Episode 32 of Music at Madden’s, we’re joined in the snug by acclaimed Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds — brothers Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn from County Carlow — alongside band member Alain McFadden for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about collaboration, identity and meaningful music.
The Carlow brothers reflect on how their upbringing shaped their love of traditional song, and they speak beautifully about their deep connection to Arranmore Island — a place that has profoundly influenced their musical spirit and sense of community. That island connection, they explain, feeds directly into the emotional core of their songwriting and harmony work.
We dive into their collaboration with Boygenius, and what it meant to work alongside artists from a different musical landscape while still staying rooted in tradition. They also discuss the recording of their latest album, All Tied Together, and their commitment to capturing performances live in the room — prioritising presence, feel and honesty over studio perfection. With Alain contributing to the broader band dynamic, they share how important it is to let songs breathe and exist in real time.
A particularly moving part of the conversation centres on what success actually means to them. While they touch on being name-dropped by actor Paul Mescal as his favourite band, they’re clear that awards and industry recognition pale in comparison to the moments when someone approaches them at the merch stall to say how deeply a song has resonated. For Ye Vagabonds, that human connection is everything.
They also chat about their favourite albums of all time — the records that shaped their songwriting, harmony approach and philosophy around making music that lasts.
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