Derek Warfield, formerly of the legendary Irish band the Wolfe Tones, continues to tour Irish strongholds around the world. Fresh from a multi-venue tour of NYC, Warfield and the Sons of Erin recently appeared at the Banshee, a popular Dorchester watering hole for locals and UMB students alike.

Ray Butler, owner of the Banshee, hosted the Irish musicians on Thursday and Friday nights, November 7 and 8. Warfield mingled with fans and the evening got off to a late start, but on-stage Warfield promised to play, “as usual,” into the wee hours of the morning.

Warfield had played with the Wolfe Tones for over thirty-seven years, before the band broke up early this year, and has written and recorded more than sixty songs and ballads. His music weaves history with music and his songs sometimes encompass sentimentality or Irish anger over the English occupation of their lands.

Warfield’s songs are well known among the Irish American community and the crowd at the Banshee reflected that, singing along to the old favorites.

Before the music started, Warfield, wearing his usual black hat, joked and talked with old friends. Many Irish American fans had come to the Banshee from all over Boston to hear Derek Warfield and the Sons of Erin play at the Banshee.

“I like to play small places,” Warfield grinned before the event, comfortably joking about his black hat and fondness for playing in small pubs.

In early March this year, though, War-field made headlines receiving the Heart of America International Peace Award from the Hibernians on behalf of his former music group, The Wolfe Tones. Previous recipients of the Peace Award include Gerry Adams and Ray Flynn.

Warfield’s latest album in addition to the title ballad “Take Me Home To Mayo” with Andy Cooney, has songs like “Roll of Honor” and “Go Home British Soldiers.” Warfield’s songs are well known for their historical content, including the Irish and their role in the American Civil War.

Warfield is also a historian and has taken an interest in the Irish exodus to America in 1845 to 1865 following the great famine, and then the role of the Irish immigrants in the American Civil War. Earlier this year Warfield also released “Clear The Way,” the second in his Irish Songs of the Civil War series, and is about the Irish exodus to America.