New album out November 20th exploring themes of migration, identity, belonging and the enduring search for the meaning of home
Ranagri (pronounced Ran – ag – rye) takes its name from a stretch of farmland in County Carlow, Ireland, that has been in lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Dónal Rogers’ family since 1658. A landscape rich with generations of memories and the experiences of those who came before, Ranagri represents heritage, belonging and stories that travel across time.
Those deep bonds are at the heart of Ranagri’s new album, Say Hello, which draws inspiration from the journeys of those who left Ireland in search of new beginnings: the hopes they carried across the oceans, the challenges they faced, and the enduring ties they maintained with the people and places they left behind.
Pre-order here: https://lnk.to/SayHello.SH
Through stories passed down across generations, including letters and messages sent back home and spoken word history from Dónal’s mother Lena Rogers who still lives at Ranagri, this affecting collection of songs explores the complex emotions of leaving – the excitement of possibility, the ache of separation, and the longing to remain connected to the place that shaped you. Although rooted in Dónal’s own family history, Ranagri skillfully makes the personal universal, speaking to the shared human condition. The result is a work of depth and resonance, shaped by lived experience and a profound sense of place.
The first single “Bound For New York City” is available now and was inspired by Lena’s eight uncles, who left Ireland for America at the turn of the 20th century in search of a better life. The song imagines their journey, and that of the thousands of Irish immigrants who arrived in New York, building the great skyscrapers while sending money home to their families.
To celebrate the release of Say Hello, the band’s first original studio album since 2022, Ranagri will bring their formidable live show to UK venues in September and November:
September
9th – Folk in the Barn/Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury
12th – Music in Ulpha/The Browfoot Rooms, Cumbria SOLD OUT
13th – The Greystones, Sheffield
17th – Wirksworth Town Hall/ Wirksworth Festival
18th – Downend Folk and Roots, Bristol
19th – Grayshott Folk Club, Grayshott
20th– Hanger Farm Arts Centre, nr Southampton
November
11th – Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
12th – King’s Place, London
13th – Ace Space, Newbury
14th – Halle St Peters, Manchester
15th – The Regal Theatre, Tenbury Wells
For further information please visit:: https://ranagri.com/
