BIOGRAPHY
Theigns & Thralls is an international collaborative project featuring Kevin Ridley (Skyclad), vocals/guitar, Dave Briggs (Waylander), guitar/whistles/vocals, John Ryan (ex-Cruachan), violin/vocals, Arjon Valk, bass guitar/vocals and Mike Verhof, drums,along with guest artists from bands, such as Korpiklaani, Ensiferum, Cruachan, Skiltron, Elvenking, Primordial and Celtibeerian.
The first album ‘Theigns & Thralls’ was released by Rockshots Records (Italy) in April 2022 and the band supported this release with performances in The UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Latvia.
Highlights included the Oktober Metalfest (2022) in The Netherlands and the Zobens un Lemess festival (2023) in Latvia.
In 2024, Theigns & Thralls performed at Warhorns (UK) and the Siege Of Limerick (Ireland) festivals, as well as completing a string of UK dates as part of the UK Folk-Metal Alliance (UKFMA), and the band’s second album, ‘The Keep & The Spire’, was released by Rockshots Records.
2024 GIGS
15 NOV 2024 - The Live Rooms - Chester, England
BOOKINGS
BOOKING: theignsandthralls@gmail.com
VIDEOS
BAND MEMBERS
Kevin Ridley
Vocals, guitar, mandola.
From Northumberland, England. Other bands include Screen Idols, Forgodsake, and Skyclad. The vocalist and guitarist for Skyclad is now also the main songwriter, vocalist and guitarist for Theigns & Thralls. Kevin has been known to enjoy a glass of fine wine or craft beer but nothing more serious.
John Ryan
Violin, cello and backing vocals.
Lives in Dublin, Ireland. John played with Cruachan for 16 years and now plays with Ériu. John has also recorded with Borknagar, Metsatöll and Ghost Bath.
Dave Briggs
Whistles and percussion
From Lurgan, Northern Ireland. He plays tin whistle, Irish Bouzouki, Irish Bodhran, guitar as well as doing vocals. He recorded whistles and added some bodhran to five tracks on the Theigns & Thralls album at his Stone Circle studio in Northern Ireland. Dave plays with the bands Waylander and Rule of Six, and we are pleased that he will be joining Theigns & Thralls as part of the touring band.
Arjon Valk
Bass guitar and backing vocals.
From Haarsteeg in The Netherlands. He also plays with the band Merichane. Arjon has spent half of his life as roadcrew for Skyclad and Satan. He is a big collector of rare basses and vinyl.
Mike Verhof
Drums
From Waalwijk in The Netherlands. Mike plays drums with Theigns and Thralls as well as Phoenix. Mike is a drum teacher at Music'scool and is an avid windsurfer.
PAST GIGS
2023 Concerts
06 OCT 2023 - XS Wrexham - Wrexham, Wales
24 NOV 2023 - TBA - Spain
25 NOV 2023 - Ambigú Axerquia - Cordoba, Spain
2022 Concerts
MUSIC
BOOKINGS
BOOKING: theignsandthralls@gmail.com