On a windy Fremantle evening, the historic walls of Fremantle Prison played host to something pretty special — a night where Irish folk-punk royalty rolled into town and reminded everyone exactly why their music has lasted four decades.
Celebrating 40 years of the iconic album Rum Sodomy & the Lash, The Pogues delivered a performance that felt less like a gig and more like a joyous musical wake… the kind where everyone ends up singing loudly with strangers by the end of the night.
Perth had the honour of kicking off the Australian leg of the tour, and from the moment punters started filing into the prison yard you could feel a bit of anticipation bubbling away. The crowd began politely seated — which lasted about as long as a cold beer on a 40-degree Perth afternoon. Once the music started flowing, people were on their feet quicker than you could say “Dirty Old Town.”
Opening the night was the brilliant John Francis Flynn, whose haunting voice and musicianship set the tone beautifully. His performance had that rare quality where you can hear a pin drop between songs — always a good sign that the crowd is well and truly locked in.
Then it was time for the main event.
With guest vocalists Daragh Lynch, Iona Zajac and Flynn joining the lineup, the band tore through Rum Sodomy & the Lash in full — a record that still punches just as hard today as it did when it landed back in 1985. The songs rolled out like old friends: raw, poetic, slightly chaotic in the best possible way, and delivered with a genuine sense of celebration.
Tracks like “A Pair of Brown Eyes,” “Rainy Night in Soho,” and “Dirty Old Town” echoed beautifully off the limestone walls, giving the whole night an atmosphere that was equal parts rowdy pub singalong and emotional time capsule. It’s not every day you get to see a record of this calibre performed start-to-finish, and the crowd knew it.
There’s something fitting about hearing The Pogues in a venue like Fremantle Prison too — gritty, historic and full of stories. The setting matched the spirit of the music perfectly.
The good news for fans around the country is that this was only the beginning. Perth was the first stop on the Australian tour, and there are still tickets available for the remaining shows.
You can grab them here:
The Pogues – Rum Sodomy & The Lash 40th Anniversary Tour Tickets
Massive thanks must go to Face to Face Touring, the team at Fremantle Prison, and the entire Pogues touring crew for the access.
Forty years on, the songs still hit hard, the crowd still sings every word, and The Pogues still prove that great music — like a good Irish whiskey — only gets better with age. Sláinte to that. 🍀
