The Rumjacks

The Rumjacks

The Rumjacks are an Australian celtic punk band formed in 2008 and based in Sydney. Their sound combines celtic, folk and punk elements, using banjo, tin whistle and mandolin alongside guitars and drums. The group is associated with celtic punk and has one listed member, Mike Rivkees.

Style and influences

The band plays a blue-collar style of folk-influenced punk, with songs built around rough storytelling, pub imagery and references to long nights on the road. Their music draws on traditional folk as well as punk energy, and they are often compared with acts such as Billy Bragg and The Pogues, though they present themselves as developing a distinct sound.

Releases and activity

The Rumjacks release their debut album, Gangs Of New Holland, through Laughing Outlaw and Inertia in 2010. The record receives critical attention, and the band tours extensively around Australia. They also support acts including Gogol Bordello, Dropkick Murphys, UK Subs, The Aggrolites, GBH and The Snowdroppers.

Reception and position

Coverage of the band describes them as part of an emerging celtic punk scene and as a group that mixes the raw storytelling of Irish music with street-punk grit. They are presented as a Sydney band with a strong live reputation and a repertory rooted in folkloric and punk traditions.