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 since then the band has performed in Ireland, The Netherlands, The UK, Spain, Germany and Latvia. Highlights include the Oktober Metalfest (2022) in The Netherlands and the Zobens un Lemess festival (2023) in Latvia.

The band have recently completed work on their second album, which is due for release in 2024.

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.