These SF-based Sligo brothers are thrilled to be returning to the Irish Center to kick off St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. The two-time Rock the Gates Summer Fleadh main act delivered a special Tribute to the Pogues concert at the 2024 UICC Winter Féile, and are delighted to be a part of the REEL March Madness line-up at the UICC.

Founded in 2002 in Sligo in the northwestern mountains of Ireland and born again two years later in San Francisco, the Hooks have had a knack for going where adventure flows. After the band’s first EP was declared record of the month in an Irish national magazine, the Hooks won a free weekend at a Dublin studio. More recording led to more attention, and soon the boys were hooking up on a tour with Shane MacGowan and the Popes. In 2004, original members and brothers Keith and Ronan Mulligan came to San Francisco. The two then met Colin Delancey, who just happened to be a drummer. Delancey’s friend Willie Gregory soon joined on bass, and suddenly the Hooks were a true San Francisco-Irish treat.

After regularly packing out Ireland’s top venues. The Hooks set about recording a four track EP, which would become record of the month in Irish national music magazine ‘Hot Press’. This E.P. received much national airplay on Ireland’s top radio stations.

2016 sees The Hooks back in the studio in Berkeley’s Fantasy Studios recording and mixing a studio album. Shane MacGowan, ‘X’, Billy Zoom, NOFX, Sigourney Weaver, The Flogging Molly and Billie Joe Armstrong have been cited as fans. Influences include The Beatles, Nick Cave, Nick Drake, The Kinks, Aphex Twin, Radiohead, Portishead, Luke Kelly.