The Real McKenzies

Celtic Punk from Vancouver BC

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About

The Real McKenzies

Label: Fat Wreck Chords/Stomp Records

since circa 1992

THE REAL McKENZIES are not just a band. They are an unstoppable touring machine. A road-hardened crew of traveling minstrels, entertainers and vagabonds on a never-ending quest for good times.

For the past 20 years, this ferocious gang of miscreants has been captivating audiences around the globe with their addictive, uncompromising and undeniably heartfelt music. Featuring a diverse and insanely talented roster of musicians, The Real McKenzies draw on both acoustic and electric instruments to blend a potent concoction of classic punk, rock n' roll, hard folk and traditional Celtic influence. Anthemic guitars and soaring bagpipes play off each other as Paul McKenzie spins yarns of times long past and regales with tales of endless drunken revelries. Blistering punk rock boot stompers stand alongside passionate singalong ballads while good times and joyous camaraderie are all the order of the day.

Fueled by an insatiable need to share the McKenzies’ gospel with the world, the boys are equally at home playing to 20,000 screaming football fans in the heart of Germany as they are to ...a few hundred punks in the dirtiest, darkest, most disreputable clubs of the Canadian wilderness. After more than two decades, 8 full-length albums, countless compilation appearances and singles, The Real McKenzies have earned a reputation that is second to none. They’ve shared the stage with Rancid, NOFX, Flogging Molly, The Misfits, Pennywise, Shane McGowan and Metallica just to name a few, all the while garnering new friends and fans along the way.

And now they’re baaaack… Westwinds is packed to the brim with roaring, rollicking and epic tales that shanghai the listener on a thirteen song, sea-tossed journey through the wild and wonderful world of The Real McKenzies. Recorded over several months at Crabapple Downs by the phenomenal Steve Loree, Westwinds is a sonic shot of deliciousness delivered straight to your ear holes. From the unapologetic raised middle figure salute of “Fool’s Road” to the hook-laden tongue-in-cheek “My Luck Is So Bad” to one of the most poignant and blood-pumping renditions of “Barrett’s Privateers (Stan Rogers)” that you’ll ever hear, this killer album is set to become an instant classic in the collections of both new and diehard fans alike. Much like a fine single malt scotch, The Real McKenzies only get better with age .

For fans of: The Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, Gogol Bordello, The Pogues.

What the press is sayin’

“The Real McKenzies are the rare outfit that improves with every album.” – Punknews

“…they've never strayed far from their unique blend of Scottish folk and Spirit of '77 punk rock. Much like Boston's Dropkick Murphys, there is ample bagpipe to be heard on any of The Real McKenzies' releases, which lends well to the band's ear for melody.” – Absolutepunk

“They’ve been busting out solid Celtic punk rock for over a decade, yet you’ll still find kids on the internet calling them out for ripping off bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly, both of whom came out of the gates a few years after the McKenzies released their first album in 1996 and were doubtlessly influenced by the band’s sound and look.” – Exclaim Magazine

“With just as many guitar licks as there are bagpipe melodies, The Real McKenzies have written thirteen songs that would get any punk crowd moving in a pit and make any old Scot raise a pint and smile.” – The Punksite show more

Punk/Metal/Hardcore/Noise

Available for Shows/Gigs

View Roster (16)

Audio Samples

Smokin' Bowl

Yes

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Community Events

Country Rocks @ The Cove Inn - May 30, 2025

Original Thursdays: Old Man Luedecke @ The Cove Inn - May 22, 2025

Chris Murphy @ The Cove Inn - May 23, 2025

Matt Dickson @ The Cove Inn - May 31, 2025

Past Events

Mar

19:30

The Real McKenzies, Another Joe & Class of 1984

The Real McKenzies' Westcoast Punk Reunion

$20-$25

First Metropolitan United Fellowship Hall

Sep

2024

19:30 23:00

The Real McKenzies, Doghouse Rose, Pound Salt, Left on Bowery

Presented by Grit & Grind

$25

The Mansion

Mar

2024

19:30

The Real McKenzies, Brutal Youth & Razorvoice

The Canadian punk legends return to Victoria!

$20-$25

White Eagle Polish Hall

Mar

2023

19:30

Real McKenzies, The Anti-Queens & The Grinning Barretts at White Eagle Hall!

The legendary Canadian celtic punk band returns to Victoria!

$19.50-$23

White Eagle Polish Hall

Mar

2022

21:15

The Real McKenzies, Dug Nugget and Real Sickies

For those of you that attended the last Victoria show with The Real McKenzies it...

$17.50-$22.50

Victoria Event Centre

Mar

2020

20:30 23:59

The Real McKenzies, REAL SICKIES, A Total Disappointment, The Shit Talkers

The Rickshaw presents The Real McKenzies with Real Sickies, A Total Disappoin...

$17.50

Rickshaw Theatre

Mar

2020

21:00 01:00

All ages w beverage service: The Real McKenzies, REAL SICKIES, The Grinning Barr...

Victoria BC Ska & Reggae Society are excited to present The Real McKenzies, The ...

$16.50-$20

White Eagle Polish Hall

Mar

2018

20:00

The Annual Return of the Real McKenzies!: The Real McKenzies, The Keg Killers

737 Productions is very proud to present the annual return of the Real McKenzies...

The Upstairs Cabaret

Mar

2017

10:30

Real McKenzies 25th Anniversary: The Real McKenzies, Isotopes, A Total Disappoin...

737 Productions is proud to present the Victoria stop on The Real McKenzies 25th...

$16-$18

The Upstairs Cabaret

Nov

2015

20:00

Stomp Records 20th Anniversary Show: The Real McKenzies, The Brains, Rude City R...

Canadian record label's 20th Anniversary show with some of the best names in Can...

Rickshaw Theatre

Jul

2015

21:45

Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival Day Four: Saturday Night Punk Party: The Real McK...

Option two is for the punks. You can’t talk about Canadian punk without bri...

$17.50-$20

Tally Ho Sports Bar and Grill

Apr

2015

20:00

The Real McKenzies, Isotopes, A Total Disappointment

The Real McKenzies http://www.realmckenzies.com/ A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REAL M...

$16.50

Rickshaw Theatre

Mar

2014

22:30 02:00

St. Paddy's Day Tour: The Real McKenzies, BOIDS, The Stockers

Join us Friday March. 7th for The Real Mckenzies St. Paddy's Day Tour and CD rel...

$15

Lucky Bar

Sep

2013

21:00

The Real McKenzies, The Darkest Of The Hillside Thickets, AK-747s

Tickets Available at: Replay Boardshop (www.facebook.com/replay.boardshop) Cha...

$15-$20

Gator's Pub

Mar

2013

22:30 02:00

St. Paddy's Day Tour & CD Release: The Real McKenzies, East End Radicals, The St...

The Victoria BC Ska Society presents Join us Friday March. 8th for The Real M...

$15

Lucky Bar

May

2012

21:00 02:00

Reverend Horton Heat, The Real McKenzies

$23

Distrikt

May

2012

20:00 01:00

C.I.A. Concerts & Red Room Present: Reverend Horton Heat, The Real McKenzies, SP...

2 Sermons of Psychobilly AND Celtic Punk MADNESS! 2 SHOWS - TUESDAY MAY ...

The Red Room

Mar

2010

20:00

The Real McKenzies, The Dreadnoughts, Raised By Apes

Rickshaw Theatre

Apr

2009

21:45 14:00

The Real McKenzies, START WITH THE COBRA, the banned

$13

Capital Ballroom

Apr

2009

22:00 14:00

The Real McKenzies, The Dreadnoughts, Speckled Jim

$15

Pub 340

View All Past Events (34)

Band Videos

$The Real McKenzies \'drink some more\' official music video Feat: Sean Connery$

The Real McKenzies 'drink some more' official music video Fe...

The Real Mckenzies Live Pub 340

Current Lineup

Dirty Kurt Robertson

Guitar/vox

Paul McKenzie

Lead Vox

1992 - present

The Bone

Guitar/Vox

1995 - present

Matt MacNasty

Bagpipes

2001 - present

Sean Sellers

Drums

2005 - present

Dave Gregg

Guitar

2005 - present

Karl Alvarez

Bass

2006 - present

Gord Taylor

Bagpipes

2009 - present

Past Members

Brad Attitude

Drums

? - 2006

Jamie Jak

Bass

1998 - 2005

Glen Kruger

Drums

2000

Eddie Big Beers

Drums

2003

Reece Toye

guitar

2004 - 2005

Joe Raposo

Bass

2005 - 2006

Rich Priske

Bass

2006

Shane Smith

Drums

2006

Band Articles

Paul McKenzie Interview Part 2

Paul McKenzie Interview Part 2 CJ: The band formed in 1992. How was starting a punk project in the high-age of grunge music? Paul: I could bend your ear for an hour with a question like that. We knew some bands in Seattle that would set...

Read Article

Author: CJ Leon

Published by: The Skinny Magazine

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