Sean Griffin

Sean Griffin is an Irish-American singer-songwriter whose music brings traditional Irish storytelling into conversation with punk, alternative rock, and melodic balladry. Raised in Danbury, Connecticut, in a family steeped in Irish music, Griffin later moved to New York and formed The Ruffians in 1998, serving as the band’s principal singer and songwriter for more than twenty-five years.

With The Ruffians, Griffin released three albums and an EP and shared stages with Shane MacGowan and the Popes, Black 47, Enter the Haggis, and Gaelic Storm. His 2026 solo album, People Are Mad, gathers songs that sat outside the band’s repertoire alongside newer material. Recorded at Old Soul Studios with producer Kenny Siegel, the album preserves Griffin’s wit and working-class storytelling while opening his sound to a more reflective solo setting. The Ruffians remain an ongoing part of his musical life.