Ranagri

Ranagri are an award-winning, contemporary indie-folk band whose sound combines Irish and world traditions. They create music that is both deeply rooted and boldly exploratory – blending cinematic arrangements, powerful songwriting and exceptional acoustic instrumentation to create a sound that is intimate yet expansive and unmistakably their own.

With an international reputation as one of contemporary folk’s most compelling live acts, Ranagri create an immersive experience built around soaring vocals, rich harmonies and virtuosic musicianship. The band features a unique combination of instruments including flutes, whistles, harp, bodhrán, hammered dulcimer, percussion and guitars. Their music has taken them to audiences across Europe, Australia and North America, with stand-out performances at major festivals, concert halls and venues worldwide.

Ranagri has released 5 critically acclaimed studio albums (Fort of the Hare, Voices, Tradition I, Playing For Luck, Tradition II), plus 2 collaborations with Tony Christie (The Great Irish Songbook Volumes I + II).

Individually, the members of Ranagri have built remarkable careers across an extraordinary range of musical worlds. Their collective experience spans performances at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, appearances at Celtic Connections and the Edinburgh Fringe, to live broadcasts on BBC Radio 2 Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 3 In Tune and BBC TV’s Later with Jools Holland. They have toured with Peter Gabriel, and worked with leading orchestras, including The London Symphony and BBC Concert Orchestras.

Their work has taken them from traditional Irish sessions and folk ensembles to concert halls, West End productions including The Lion King and The Great Gatsby, film soundtracks featuring composers such as James Horner, Daft Punk, Ennio Morricone and Hans Zimmer, and recording collaborations with artists including Paul McCartney, The White Stripes, The Divine Comedy, First Aid Kit and Florence and the Machine.

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.

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 skillully 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.