{{about|the British band|other uses|Merry Hell (disambiguation)}} {{EngvarB|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Merry Hell | image = Merry Hell Live2019.jpg | caption = Merry Hell playing live in 2019 | image_size = | landscape = | alias = | origin = Wigan, England | genre = Folk rock | years_active = 2010–present | label = Mrs Casey Records | associated_acts = The Tansads | website = http://www.merryhell.co.uk | current_members = Andrew Kettle<br />Bob Kettle<br />John Kettle<br />Virginia Kettle<br />Colin Foster<br />Lee Goulding<br />Andy Jones<br />Simon Swarbrick | past_members = Andrew Dawson<br />Phill Knight<br />Tim Howard<br/>Nick Davies<br />Neil McCartney }}
'''Merry Hell''' are an English folk rock band from Wigan, Greater Manchester, formed in 2010. The core members of the band include the three Kettle brothers, who were previously members of the Tansads. {{as of|2026}} Merry Hell have released seven albums.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merryhell.co.uk/music.html|work=Merry Hell|title=About|access-date=25 April 2026}}</ref>
== History == Guitarist and songwriter John Kettle and his brothers, mandolin player Bob and vocalist Andrew, were members of the 1990s folk rock band the Tansads. In 2010, over a decade since they last performed together, former members of the band reunited for a series of concerts in St Helens. Following the successful gigs, some of the musicians involved, including the three brothers, decided to continue as a band, but rather than use the Tansads name chose to adopt the new name Merry Hell.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Second-coming-creating-Merry-Hell-music-fans/story-15456076-detail/story.html |title=Second coming is creating Merry Hell with music fans | Derby Telegraph |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111218/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Second-coming-creating-Merry-Hell-music-fans/story-15456076-detail/story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to the former Tansads, other members of the new band included John Kettle's wife Virginia. Merry Hell were signed to the Mrs Casey Records label on the basis of a demo recording, and in October 2011 released their debut album ''Blink... and You Miss It''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/MerryHell.html |title=FATEA - Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref>
In 2012, Merry Hell performed at Folk on the Pier in Cromer, the Derbyshire 'Big Session', the Towersey Village Festival, Wickham Festival, and the Great British Folk Festival at Skegness. They also performed an autumn show at St Helens Citadel, billed as "Merry Helloween".<ref>{{cite web|title=Review of the first 'Merry Helloween' show by Paul Arris|url=http://louderthanwar.com/merry-hells-helloween-st-helens-live-review/|website=Louder than War|date=4 November 2012 |accessdate=27 August 2014}}</ref>
The band's second album, ''Head Full of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain'', was released in 2013,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.northwestfolk.co.uk/article.php?id=255 |title=Merry Hell - Head Full of Magic Shoes Full of Rain - North West Folk |access-date=15 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402225138/http://www.northwestfolk.co.uk/article.php?id=255 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://folking.com/merry-hell-to-release-head-full-of-magic-shoes-full-of-rain/ |title=MERRY HELL to release Head Full Of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain |website=Folking.com |date= 12 May 2013|accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://louderthanwar.com/merry-hell-head-full-of-magic-shoes-full-of-rain-album-review/ |title=Merry Hell: Head Full Of Magic, Shoes Full Of Rain - album review |website=Louderthanwar.com |date=2020-04-18 |accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref> and features a guest performance by Dave Swarbrick, formerly of Fairport Convention. That year the band performed more than forty live shows, and also played at the Acoustic Festival of Britain at Uttoxeter, Off The Tracks in Derbyshire, the Beverley Folk Festival, the Stainsby Festival, the Wickham Festival and Beautiful Days in Devon.
In 2014 the band released the EP "The Ghost",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/Review-story.asp?nid=8821 |title=The Ghost EP- Merry Hell - SpiralEarth |accessdate=2015-03-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317182507/http://spiralearth.co.uk/news/Review-story.asp?nid=8821 |archivedate=17 March 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> which previewed tracks from their upcoming third album, and took part in the Armistice Pals project, collaborating with other folk artists including Lucy Ward, Christine Collister and Robb Johnson on a version of Pete Seeger's song "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2014/11/armistice-pals-release-cd-featuring-an-all-star-cast-song-of-the-day/ |title=StackPath |website=Folkradio.co.uk |date= 3 November 2014|accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/Winners2014.html |title=FATEA - Home |website=Fatea-records.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2020-06-09}}</ref> Merry Hell's third album, ''The Ghost in Our House... And Other Stories...'' was released in early 2015 and features a guest appearance by guitarist Gordon Giltrap.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wigantoday.net/what-s-on/music-scene/raising-merry-hell-a-ghostly-business-1-6851457 |title=Raising Merry Hell a ghostly business - Wigan Today |access-date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402122050/http://www.wigantoday.net/what-s-on/music-scene/raising-merry-hell-a-ghostly-business-1-6851457 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://www.wigantoday.net/what-s-on/music-scene/folk-rockers-raising-merry-hell-1-7196897 "Folk-rockers raising Merry Hell"]. ''Wigan Today''.</ref> The band's fourth album ''Bloodlines'' followed in late 2016, and the fifth ''Anthems to the Wind'' in 2018. In November 2020 the band released their sixth album ''Emergency Lullabies''.
==Members== thumb|right|The band playing live in 2015 ===Current=== * Andrew Kettle – vocals * Bob Kettle – mandolin * John Kettle – guitar * Virginia Kettle – vocals, guitar * Lee Goulding – keyboards * Colin Foster – bass * Andy Jones – drums * Simon Swarbrick – fiddle
===Former=== * Andrew Dawson – bass * Nick Davies - bass * Tim Howard – guitar * Phill Knight – drums * Neil McCartney - fiddle
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== *''Blink... And You Miss It'' (2011) *''Head Full of Magic, Shoes Full of Rain'' (2013) *''The Ghost in Our House and Other Stories...'' (2015) *''Bloodlines'' (2016) *''Anthems to the Wind'' (2018) *''Emergency Lullabies'' (2020) *''Rising of the Bold'' (2025)
===Compilation albums=== *''Let the Music Speak for Itself'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesoundcafe.com/post/merry-hell-go-retrospective-and-set-to-release-28-track-double-cd-let-the-music-speak-for-itself|title=Merry Hell Go Retrospective And Set To Release 28 Track Double CD 'Let The Music Speak For Itself'|date=29 March 2023 |publisher=The Sound Cafe|accessdate=29 March 2023}}</ref>
===DVDs=== *''A Grand Night Out - Merry Hell Live'' *''A Documentary: A Year in the Life of Merry Hell'' (2019)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.merryhell.co.uk Official website]
Category:British folk rock groups Category:English folk musical groups Category:Folk punk groups