The Irish Rovers in Prince Albert

The Irish Rovers are a Canadian folk group formed in Toronto in 1963 by musicians who had emigrated from Ireland. They became known for Irish traditional songs and comic folk material, including “The Unicorn,” “The Black Velvet Band” and “Wasn’t That a Party,” and later hosted their own television series on CBC. In the 1960s, the group developed its act in Toronto folk clubs before taking its ballads, sea songs and humorous numbers on tours across North America. Concerts later reached Australia and New Zealand, while Canadian theatres remained central to the band’s schedule. The 50th-anniversary Farewell to Rovin’ Tour began in 2012, and selected Canadian performances followed that run.