For more than 41 years, Cherish the Ladies has captivated audiences around the globe as one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles in the history of Irish music. Renowned for their exhilarating blend of traditional Irish music, breathtaking vocals, and dazzling step dancing, they have won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. As the Boston Globe aptly declared, "It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn't enjoy what they do!"

Founded in 1985, this trailblazing, Grammy-nominated ensemble broke barriers in the traditionally male-dominated world of Irish music. Over the past four decades, they have built an extraordinary legacy with 19 critically acclaimed albums, an Emmy Award-winning PBS special, and thousands of performances across five continents, appearing everywhere from the world's most prestigious concert halls to the Olympic Games and the White House. One of the longest-running and most successful Irish music ensembles, Cherish the Ladies has continued to set the standard for excellence on the international stage.

Led by the charismatic flute and whistle virtuoso Joanie Madden, recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship—the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts—Cherish the Ladies combines world-class musicianship, beautiful vocals, engaging arrangements, and dazzling Irish step dancing into an unforgettable live experience. Alongside Madden are stellar musicians: Mary Coogan on guitar, Mirella Murray on accordion, Kathleen Boyle on piano, Nollaig Casey on fiddle, vocalist Kate Purcell, and a talented ensemble of champion Irish dancers.

The New York Times praises their sound as "passionate, tender, and rambunctious," while the Washington Post marvels at their "astonishing array of virtuosity." Among their many honors, the group was named the BBC's Best Musical Group of the Year and Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards. Their impressive list of collaborations includes the Boston Pops Symphony, Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith, The Chieftains, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, The Clancy Brothers, and Tommy Makem. They have also appeared as featured guest artists in more than 300 concerts with symphony orchestras, making them the most successful Celtic Pops ensemble in history.

Cherish the Ladies have amassed a long and impressive list of honors in both America and Ireland, including being permanently commemorated with a street named in their honor on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York: "Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies."

Whether performing in concert halls, at major international festivals, or in intimate theatres, Cherish the Ladies continues to honor the rich Irish traditional music passed down from their fathers while captivating audiences with an irresistible blend of virtuosic musicianship, soaring vocals, dazzling step dancing, and warm Irish humor. More than four decades after their founding, they remain one of the world's most beloved, enduring, and influential Irish traditional music ensembles.

Here are our latest tour dates. For an overview of all our tour dates click here.