Dropkick Murphys Announce 2027 St. Patrick’s Day Tour
Beloved Boston punks will spend six weeks on the road this winter across the U.S. and Canada
Source: Rolling Stone · September 29, 2026 at 7:32 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, 29 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Dropkick Murphys Announce 2027 St. Patrick’s Day Tour, Highlighting Political Stance and Cross-Cultural Lineup
Market Impact
The Boston-based punk band Dropkick Murphys has announced their 2027 St. Patrick’s Day Tour, a six-week North American trek beginning February 5 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that will blend political activism with high-energy performances. The tour, which follows recent European and Australasian engagements, underscores the band’s enduring relevance as both a cultural institution and a voice for progressive causes, particularly labor rights and anti-authoritarianism.
The announcement comes amid the band’s continued public stance on political issues, most recently drawing attention for singer Ken Casey’s criticism of Ed Sheeran’s decision to comply with Robert Kraft’s demand that Macklemore be removed from a tour. Casey’s refusal to align with such corporate interference has solidified Dropkick Murphys’ reputation as a band unafraid to challenge power structures—a theme that will likely resonate with their audience during the tour.
The lineup, which includes Canadian punk outfit Home Front and San Francisco’s Spiritual Cramp, reflects a deliberate cross-border and genre-blending approach, though the band’s March 10 show in Springfield, Massachusetts, will stand out as a unique collaboration with the local minor-league hockey team, the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Dropkick Murphys, a seven-piece band with over 30 years of history, has released more than a dozen studio albums, most recently For the People in 2025. Their latest project, a split album titled New England Forever with fellow Boston punks Haywire, revisited their harder-edged roots, while their upcoming contribution to 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan, a tribute to the late Pogues singer, further cements their place in the Celtic punk canon.
The tour also includes a high-profile appearance at Tom Morello’s Power to the People Festival on October 3, near Washington, D.C., reinforcing their alignment with progressive movements.
The tour’s itinerary spans 20 cities across the U.S. And Canada, beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and concluding in Portland, Maine. Key stops include Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, with the band sharing stages with Home Front and Spiritual Cramp for most of the run. The Springfield, Massachusetts, date on March 10 is a notable exception, featuring a post-game performance at the MassMutual Center following the Thunderbirds’ hockey match.
Tickets for this event are exclusively bundled with hockey game tickets and will be available through the team’s website, while the remainder of the tour’s tickets go on sale October 2 at 10 a.m. Local time via DropkickMurphys.com. No dates in Boston proper have been announced yet, though the band has hinted at future additions.
The band’s political messaging has been a defining feature of their career, particularly through Casey’s vocal support for labor unions and his opposition to far-right rhetoric. His recent remarks on Sheeran’s tour controversy—where he stated, “That’s not how Dropkick Murphys would operate”—highlighted the band’s refusal to compromise their principles, even in the face of commercial pressure. This stance has earned them a dedicated following among fans who value both their music and their unapologetic activism.
From a market and cultural perspective, the tour’s cross-border appeal—particularly in Canada—could strengthen Dropkick Murphys’ presence in a region where punk and political music have a strong tradition. The inclusion of Spiritual Cramp, known for their New Wave-infused sound, may also attract a broader audience beyond the band’s core punk demographic. Meanwhile, the Springfield Thunderbirds collaboration represents a novel fusion of sports and live music, potentially drawing new fans to both events.
Looking ahead, the band’s October 3 appearance at Morello’s festival—known for its lineup of politically engaged artists—will further solidify their role as a key voice in contemporary protest music. With their upcoming contributions to 20th Century Paddy and their continued touring, Dropkick Murphys remain a link between Boston’s punk heritage and the broader movements for social justice.
The 2027 St. Patrick’s Day Tour, with its mix of political defiance and musical innovation, sets the stage for another chapter in their enduring legacy.
Related: Dropkick Murphys · Ken Casey · Albuquerque, New Mexico