Keith Roberts of the Young Dubliners spoke with Rodger Hara on Shamrock Gale about the band’s upcoming September 20th benefit concert at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, supporting the Miners Memorial. Roberts reflected on the Irish immigrant connection to Colorado mining history, shared details on their new album—set for release in 2026 with singles out now—and discussed the importance of charity work and giving back through music. He promised a set rich in Irish songs and tradition, tailored to honor Leadville’s heritage. (Interview: 9/17/25)
Rodger Hara: Keith Roberts on the line. Welcome back to KGNU. Keith, it’s been a few years since you’ve been on our airwaves talking to Carl. How are you today?
Keith Roberts (The Young Dubliners): I’m doing great. Thanks for having me.
Rodger Hara: So, you’re going to be back in Colorado on September 20th doing a fundraiser in Leadville for the Miners Memorial and the Tabor Opera House. How did you get that gig?
Keith Roberts: It was through a good friend of the band, Stephen Sons, who had been involved with it. He reached out to me about a year ago and asked if we’d be interested in doing the show. I absolutely wanted to, based on the stories I’d heard from Leadville, and of course we also knew of the Tabor Opera House and what a historic location it was.
So once they asked us, I said, “Yeah, if you can pull it together and our schedule allows, we’d love to.” Then the planets aligned—the weekend opened up, and we grabbed it. The more time has gone by since we booked it, the more I’ve learned about the event. I’m really excited to do it.
Being from Ireland, we have that deep connection with America through immigration. This will be very close to our hearts. I’m looking forward to getting up there, paying tribute to all those lost souls who worked in such horrific conditions. Now we get to arrive and enjoy the theater—with great snacks and drinks, which they never had. We’ll have to raise a glass for them for sure.
Rodger Hara: Are you prepared for the altitude?
Keith Roberts: You know, I always say I am. We’ve played places like Snowmass and Aspen, but I don’t think you can ever be fully prepared. We’ve added something new to our rider this time—some cans of oxygen. Hopefully that’ll be enough! There might not be as much jumping around though.
Rodger Hara: Just make sure the oxygen’s not too far off stage.
Keith Roberts: Exactly. It could be one of those nights where I get through three verses of “Rocky Road to Dublin,” then need a quick break before verses four and five.
Rodger Hara: Speaking of songs, talk a bit about your new album. I understand you’ve got one coming out.
Keith Roberts: Yes—we’ve been working on it for years. Most of it was written back in 2022–23, but the challenge has been finding time to record since we tour so much and live all over the country—Kansas City, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles.
We finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve been releasing singles first, because with streaming platforms like Spotify, if you drop a full album all at once, they consider all the songs released and won’t promote them individually. We’ve learned from the younger artists that the best way is to release singles, build some momentum, and then release the full album. So far, we’ve put out two singles, and we hope to release the whole record by March 2026.
Rodger Hara: Are the songs originals?
Keith Roberts: Yes, they’re all originals so far. I usually like to include a cover, and I might still. My influences range from Big Country, the Waterboys, Thin Lizzy, U2, the Pogues—along with all the Irish trad bands and Horslips. I love blending rock with Celtic sounds. Sometimes I’ll take a traditional song and “Dify” it—make it our own. So the album will be mostly originals, maybe with one cover.
Rodger Hara: What can people expect to hear at your concert at the Tabor Opera House at 7:00 PM on September 20th?
Keith Roberts: We’re going to do two sets. I feel like this show needs to lean heavily on the Irish side of our music. We’ll play a lot from our Irish Sessions record, songs that miners in Leadville might have sung along to back in the day, plus some Pogues tunes and other modern material. It’ll reflect the importance of the evening—a little different from our usual show.
Rodger Hara: That sounds wonderful. You’ve also released a song recently. Can you talk about it? I’ll play it after the interview.
Keith Roberts: Yes. I started writing it about a year into COVID. During the first year, I had zero interest in picking up a guitar—gigs kept getting canceled, tours shut down. It wasn’t until I accepted it would be long term—nearly two years—that I started writing again.
This particular song is about going through hardship but finding a silver lining. I wanted something hopeful, not just bleak. It’s about someone who’s had a tough life but hits the reset button. It’s called Stop Shaking Your Head, You Can Die When You’re Dead. The lyric goes, “Stand up, pick up all the pieces, take ’em or leave them instead.” It’s about regrouping, leaving negativity behind, and focusing on what makes you happy for the second half of your life.
Rodger Hara: If you’re lucky enough to be given the gift of gab and song, you can convey that message to others.
Keith Roberts: Whether they like it or not.
Rodger Hara: The Dubs have a reputation for supporting nonprofits and charities. How did you get into that, and how often do you do it?
Keith Roberts: Not as often as we’d like, since we’re on the road so much. But whenever I’ve got the time, I try to. We’ve done events mostly in California, since it’s easy to gather for a day. We try to give back. We’ve been given this amazing career of playing music for a living—something I never take for granted. I always joke my biggest fear was having to get a “real job.”
When you can pay it back, you should. I believe in karma—good deeds come back around. And honestly, sometimes we get more from it than the audience. We’ve played senior homes, and seeing the joy on their faces from Irish music—so embedded in American culture—is incredible. It makes you feel good to know you can bring happiness to people.
So, the short answer is: whenever we can fit it into our touring schedule, we do it.
Rodger Hara: Well, it’s grand that you’ll be bringing Irish culture to the stage of the Tabor Opera House on Saturday, September 20th at 7:00 PM. It’s part of Leadville Irish Weekend, which includes the traditional “Practice St. Paddy’s Day Parade,” your concert, and the dedication of a new mother-and-child sculpture at the Miners Memorial.
Keith Roberts has been my most welcome guest today on Shamrock Gale. Keith, it’s been wonderful chatting with you.
Keith Roberts: Thank you, Rodger. Take care.
