In a time when music is confined to uninspired algorithmic echo chamber boxes, Workman Song is on a crusade championing a simple no-BS musical ethos: genre is meaningless and meeting safe expectations is anathema. Known & beloved for freewheeling marathon sets of psychedelic folk rock, soul, and honky tonk music, Workman Song marries wild Irish spirit with pure Americana in an uplifting sonic revival of the soul of rock and roll.
Founded in 2014 by singer-songwriter Sean McMahon in Brooklyn, the project migrated around New England until McMahon met his wife Katie singing at Midnight Mass on Martha's Vineyard in 2016, and the rest was history. The dynamic duo has been raising their growing family on farmers' market concerts, dive bar gigs, country fairs, church concerts, and now marquee festivals and stages across America.
With the roster filled out by Ted MacInnes (drums) and Chris Knott (bass), Workman Song leaves no stone unturned in their sonic explorations. Twang, grunge, and jazz meet in McMahon’s mercurial guitar playing and ambidextrous vocals, intertwining in soulful close harmony with Katie's, a world class balladeer who has graced the stage of the Boston Pops.
"Equal parts Rodriguez, Bruce and the Dead...what Dylan would have sounded like on about six tabs of acid...shaman-esque leading man with casual neo-psychedelic hippy swagger" - Baebelmusic
"Gritty, freewheeling folk...earnest, amber-toned songs exploring the edges of faith" - The Wild Honey Pie
Festivals: Boston Calling Music Festival, MA | Beach Roach Weekend, MA | Green River Fest, MA | River Rock Music Festival, ME | Wild Goose Festival, NC | CMJ Music Marathon, NY | Welcome Campers Festival, NY | Passim Campfire Festival, MA
Co-Bills: Foo Fighters | Beck | Alanis Morisette | Wilco | Avett Brothers | Queens of the Stone Age | Jason Isbell | Lake Street Dive | Sean Lennon & GOASTT | Big Thief | John Fogerty | Carly Simon | Emmylou Harris | Lucinda Williams | The Wailers | Dawes | King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard | Billy Strings | Matisyahu | Lord Huron | Khruangbin | Margaret Glaspy | David Pettigrew | Micah Taylor | Jason Gray
Top Songs:
“No, It’s Not” 1.3m streams on Spotify
“I Want To Be With You” featured on 2020 Subaru Ad
“It Must Be Rye” featured on Showtime’s “Shameless"
“Rock and Roll” voted #1 song by listeners of WRSI
“Just Say Yes”currently on rotation on MVY