Michael McGoldrick (born 26 November 1971, in Manchester, England) is a folk musician who plays Irish flute, uilleann pipes, low whistle and bodhran. He also plays other instruments such as acoustic guitar, cittern, and mandolin.
Bands McGoldrick has been a member of several influential bands. In 1994, he was awarded the BBC Young Tradition Award, and in 2001 he was given the Instrumentalist of the Year award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
McGoldrick was a founding member of the Celtic rock band Toss the Feathers while still at school. During this time, he competed at the Fleadhanna with fiddler Dezi Donnelly, whom he had met through local Comhaltas meetings. He appeared at various local and national festivals and ran whistle/flute workshops at the Cambridge Folk Festival and for Folkworks on their "Flutopia" concert tour.
In the mid-1990s, McGoldrick was a member of Arcady, performing and recording with the band during its later years.
In November 1995, McGoldrick co-founded the band Fluke! (later renamed as Flook) with Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen. After one tour, he left the group to pursue other musical projects.
From 1997 until 2000, McGoldrick waws an early member of Lúnasa, performing on the group's initial recordings and tours. In 1998, he joined the Scottish Gaelic band Capercaillie, with whom he has recorded eight albums to date, including two live releases.
McGoldrick played regularly with Afro-Celt Sound System and has been a longstanding member of Kate Rusby's touring and recording band. He has also led his own ensemble, Michael McGoldrick Band, since the late 2000s.
In addition to larger ensembles, McGoldrick has been active in smaller collaborative projects, including long-running duos and trios with musicians such as John Doyle, John McCusker, Tim Edey, John Carty, and Dezi Donnelly, resulting in several studio and live recordings.
Since 2007, McGoldrick has been a regular member of the house band for the Transatlantic Sessions, where he has performed both traditional material and his own compositions and arrangements.
In 2010, Michael temporarily replaced John McCusker, joining Tim O'Brien on Mark Knopfler's US leg of the Get Lucky Tour. Following this stint, he continued with the band for the European leg of the workd tour. As of 2024, McGoldrick remains an active touring and recording member of Mark Knopfler's band.
In the early 2020s, McGoldrick became a member of Usher's Island, a folk supergroup featuring Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, and John Doyle, contributing to recordings and live performance.
In 2025, Michael released a tune collection and accompanying recording titled 50 Original Tunes and Chords, featuring Donald Shaw on piano and Innes White on guitar.
Discography Solo/duo/trio
Solo +YearAlbumNotes1996Morning RoryAughrim Records AUGH012000FusedVertical Records VERTCD0512005WiredVertical Records VERTCD0742010AuroraVertical Records VERTCD0902018ArcVertical Records VERTCD1112020Waterman's (Live)Vertical Records202550 Original Tunes and Chords
Duo/Trio +YearAlbumw/ArtistsNotes1995Champions of the NorthDezi DonnellyMagnetic Music2001At First LightJohn McSherryVertical Records VERTCD0612018Dog in the FogDezi DonnellyBoxroom Music2020Mike McGoldrick & John DoyleJohn DoyleBoxroom Music2022At Our LeisureJohn CartyRacket Records2024JamlandTim Edey2012LiveJohn McCusker & John DoyleVertical Records2016The Mark Radcliffe Folk SessionsJohn McCusker & John DoyleSmooth Operations 2018The Wishing TreeJohn McCusker & John DoyleUnder One Sky Records UOSR0042020The Reed That Bends in the Storm John McCusker & John DoyleUnder One Sky Records UOSR0072020Christmas at HomeJohn McCusker & John Doyle2021At Home This Spring (Live) John McCusker & John DoyleUnder One Sky Records UOSR0092024The Best Of John McCusker & John DoyleUnder One Sky Records UOSR0112026Between the Mountain and the SeaJohn McCusker & John DoyleUnder One Sky Records
As band member of +YearAlbumBandNotes1988Live at the 32Toss the FeathersBop Cassettes1989Columbus EclipseToss the Feathers1993Rude AwakeningToss the Feathers1991AwakeningToss the Feathers1994TTF'94Toss the Feathers1995The Next RoundToss the Feathers1995Many Happy ReturnsArcadyDara Records DARACD0801996Flook! Live! FlookSmall CD 94051997Beautiful Wasteland CapercaillieSurvival Records1998Dawn Till Dusk (The Best of Capercaillie)CapercaillieSurvival Records2000Nàdurra CapercaillieSurvival Records2002Live in Concert CapercaillieSurvival Records2003Choice Language CapercaillieVertical Records2004Grace And Pride: The Anthology 1984-2004CapercaillieSurvival Records 2008Roses and TearsCapercaillieVertical Records2013At the Heart of It All CapercaillieVertical Records2024ReLoved CapercaillieVertical Records1998Lúnasa LúnasaSelf-released1999Otherworld LúnasaGreen Linnet2008The Story So Far...LúnasaCompass Records1997HourglassKate RusbyCompass Records1998Cowsong Kate RusbyPure Records1999Sleepless Kate RusbyCompass Records2001Little Lights Kate RusbyPure Records2001Withered And Died Kate RusbyPure Records200210Kate RusbyPure Records2003Underneath The Stars Kate RusbyPure Records2005The Girl Who Couldn't Fly Kate RusbyPure Records2007Awkward Annie Kate RusbyPure Records201220 Kate RusbyPure Records, Mighty Village, & Island Records2014Ghost Kate RusbyPure Records2016Life in a Paper Boat Kate RusbyPure Records202230: Happy YearsKate RusbyPure Records2000All in a Life Eden's BridgeStraightway Records2002Isle of TidesEden's BridgeWhole World Media Group2005New Celtic WorshipEden's BridgeWhole World Media Group2005TunesSharon Shannon, Frankie Gavin, Jim MurrayCompass Records2006Upside DownSharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim MurrayThe Daisy Label2007RenegadeSharon Shannon, Dezi Donnelly, Jim MurrayThe Daisy Label 2011Future Trad CollectiveFuture Trad CollectiveVertical Records2001Celtic Melt Celtic MeltCavendish Music2017Usher's Island Usher's IslandVertical Records2024One for the RoadThe McGoldrick Family2009Border Reiver (Single) Mark KnopflerReprise Records 2009Get LuckyMark KnopflerReprise Records 2012PrivateeringMark KnopflerMercury Records 2015TrackerMark KnopflerVerve2018Down the Road Wherever Mark KnopflerVirgin Records2024One Deep River Mark KnopflerEMI/British Grove
As guest artist/other +YearAlbumArtist(s)1997Straight on No Problem Anthony John Clarke1998Spellbound Ten19981 Douar Alan Stivell 1999Volume 1: The Source Big Sky1999Volume 2: ReleaseAfro Celt Sound System1999IdentitésIdir1999Missa Celtica John Cameron2000Seal MaidenKaran Casey2000Yella HooseJohn McCusker 2000New Celtic Music From Green Linnet Various2000Ceol Tacsi Various2001Two Journeys Tim O'Brien 2001The Wind Begins To Sing Karan Casey 2001Raining UpMairead Nesbitt2001Cambridge Folk Festival - A Celebration of Roots Music 1997-1999Various2002Live Recordings From The William Kennedy Piping Festival Various200250 US CentsReel & Soul Association2002Warm & Tender Love (Single)Reel & Soul Association2002The Acoustic Folk BoxVarious2002Through the Round WindowEamonn Coyne2002Time To Fall Karen Matheson 2003Distant ShoreKaran Casey 2003What Road?Session A92003If Not Now e2K 2004The Arms Dealer's Daughter Shooglenifty 2004Musical Tour of New Zealand Billy Connolly2004Miles ApartLeon Hunt2004Movin''' |Human Touch |- |2005 |Shots|Damien Dempsey |- |2005 |ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM|Aquarium |- |2005 |Wayward Son|John Doyle |- |2005 |Downriver|Karen Matheson |- |2005 |Strategy |Horace X |- |2005 |Earthsongs|Secret Garden |- |2005 |The Essential Collection 1995–2005|Ten |- |2005 |Hands Across The Water |Various |- |2005 |Folktopia - Music of Vertical Records, Vol. 1 |Various |- |2005 |The Furthest Wave |Cathie Ryan |- |2005 |Raining Up|Máiréad |- |2006 |My Secret Is My Silence |Roddy Woomble |- |2006 |The Seventh Veil|Theresa Kavanagh |- |2006 |Live Acoustic at the Jam House |Ocean Colour Scene |- |2006 |The Songs of The Radio Ballads|Various |- |2006 |Og Mhadainn Shamhraidh|Kathleen MacInnes |- |2006 |Música na Maleta |Tejedor |- |2007 |Peacetime|Eddi Reader |- |2007 |Cuilidh|Julie Fowlis |- |2007 |Prism |Beth Nielsen Chapman |- |2007 |Across The Black River|Kevin Burke & Cal Scott |- |2007 |Cool As Folk - Cambridge Folk Festival|Various |- |2008 |Before the Ruin |Kris Drever, John McCusker & Roddy Woomble |- |2008 |Yella House + Goodnight Ginger|John McCusker |- |2008 |In Love + Love |Heidi Talbot |- |2009 |Imeall |Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh |- |2009 |Wells For Zoë - Water For Life|Various |- |2010 |Exiles Return|John Doyle and Karan Casey |- |2010 |On the Move|Colin Farrell |- |2010 |Bretonne |Nolwenn Leroy |- |2010 |Summer Hill |Damien O'Kane |- |2010 |Last Star |Heidi Talbot |- |2010 |Capture 1995-2010 |Afro Celt Sound System |- |2010 |Celtic Roots |Various |- |2010 |Transatlantic Sessions - Series 4: Volume 2 |Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various |- |2010 |Transatlantic Sessions - Series 4: Volume 3 |Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various |- |2011 |Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5: Volume 1 |Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various |- |2011 |Shadow And Light |John Doyle |- |2011 |Out on the Edge|Chris Dawson |- |2012 |Ô Filles De L'Eau|Nolwenn Leroy |- |2012 |All The Way Home |Cathy Jordan |- |2012 |Only Boys Aloud |Only Boys Aloud |- |2012 |Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan |Various |- |2012 |Die Wanderhure - Best Of |Stephan Massimo |- |2012 |The Sailor's Revenge |Bap Kennedy |- |2012 |Five And Twenty |Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham |- |2013 |Angels Without Wings|Heidi Talbot |- |2013 |These Wilder Things|Ruth Moody |- |2013 |Полная Дискография|Aquarium |- |2014 |Gach Sgeul - Every Story|Julie Fowlis |- |2014 |Songs from Twisting River |West of Eden |- |2014 |Homecoming - A Scottish Fantasy |Nicole Benedetti |- |2014 |Transatlantic Session - Series 6: Volume 3 |Transatlantic Sessions: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, & Various |- |2015 |Make a Note|Colin Farrell |- |2015 |JEKYLL + HYDE|Zac Brown Band |- |2015 |Encore Heureux |Zazie |- |2015 |Complicated Game |James McMurty |- |2015 |Urram|Karen Matheson |- |2015 |Katie Morag (Music from the BBC Series)|Donald Shaw |- |2015 |The Widening Gyre|Altan |- |2015 |Vagabond|Eddi Reader |- |2016 |My Secret Is My Silence|Roddy Woombie |- |2016 |Altamira |Mark Knopfler & Evelyn Glennie |- |2016 |Hello Goodbye |John McCusker |- |2016 |Doolin' |Doolin' |- |2016 |The Seven Suns|John McSherry |- |2016 |The Pound Ridge Sessions |Kevin Burke & John Brennan |- |2017 |Alterum |Julie Fowlis |- |2017 |Pretty Little Troubles |Malcolm Holcombe |- |2017 |Searbh Siúcra|Éilís Crean |- |2017 |Pretty Peg|Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys |- |2017 |Celtic Colours Live, Vol. 5 |Various |- |2017 |Happy 2017 from Tim Edey! |Tim Edey |- |2017 |Hebrides - Islands on the Edge Soundtrack|Various |- |2018 |Cavalier |Eddi Reader |- |2018 |Folk Fever |The Band of Love |- |2018 |The Art of Forgetting |Kyle Carey |- |2018 |Banjophony|Damien O'Kane & Ron Block |- |2018 |Basque Selfie|Korrontzi |- |2018 |Love Is The Bridge Between Two Hearts |Heidi Talbot & John McCusker |- |2019 |Quarehawk|Michael Walsh |- |2019 |La Lluz Encesa|Llan de Cubel |- |2019 |Inversions|Belinda O'Hooley |- |2020 |The Path of Stones|John Doyle |- |2020 |Simply Whistle|Pat Walsh |- |2020 |Glackanacker|The Black Brothers |- |2020 |When I Wait For You|Dirk Powell |- |2020 |Earthbound |Starless |- |2021 |Songs for the Sparrows|Nefesh Mountain |- |2021 |Blue Shaman|Abaji |- |2021 |I Got Rhythm|Tim Edey |- |2021 |The Wishing Tree|Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys |- |2021 |Flook/McGoldrick Remixes|Zazim |- |2021 |Searbh Siúcra / Bitter Sweet|Eilis Crean |- |2022 |Autumn|Laura Auer |- |2022 |Our Voices Echo|Rura |- |2022 |Women of the World|Chris While & Julie Matthews |- |2022 |Now and the Evermore |Colin Hay |- |2022 |Michael McGoldrick - Honesty Bar [Rua Soul Remix]|Rua Soul |- |2022 |I AM WOMAN|Zazie |- |2022 |Banjophonics|Damien O'Kane & Ron Block |- |2023