The Cloverhearts… Celtic Punk from Australia!

The Cloverhearts are among the newest and fastest-rising bands in today’s Celtic punk scene. Fronted by Australian singer-songwriter Sam Cooper, the band has amassed millions of streams across digital platforms in just a few short years, while sharing the stage with key names in the genre such as The Mahones, Flogging Molly, Ferocious Dog, Zebrahead, and Booze & Glory.

Influenced by skate punk and DIY culture, Sam Cooper blends fast-paced, melodic punk rock with stories of love and loss, placing strong emphasis on the traditional elements of the genre. The result is a dynamic sound driven by bagpipes and tin whistles, reminiscent of early Dropkick Murphys as well as the raw energy of Green Day.

The rapid rise of The Cloverhearts is also reflected in their international reach, including their placement on Spotify’s Official Celtic Punk Playlist alongside established acts such as The Real McKenzies and The Rumjacks. Their music resonates with a wide audience, appealing both to punk fans and listeners drawn to a more traditional folk sound.
Despite their relatively short five-year career, The Cloverhearts have already performed at some of the most important festivals across Europe, the UK, and Japan, including Punk Rock Holiday, Brakrock, Mighty Sounds, Rock im Ring, Rebellion, Brintaal, and Festival du Roi Arthur. As the band enters 2026 with a refreshed lineup and a new album in the works, The Cloverhearts appear to be entering a pivotal stage in their journey

Interview with Sam Cooper

Athenscalling.gr: Hi Sam, nice to meet you. Where can we find you at the moment?

SAM COOPER: Hello, thanks for the invitation! I’m currently in Krabi, Thailand enjoying some down time before a year of touring with the band starts.

Athenscalling.gr: The Cloverhearts have a very distinctive sound. How would you describe your musical identity, and how has it evolved since the band first started?

SAM COOPER: Yeah, I think we have a distinctive sound too. I didn’t grow up listening to Celtic Punk, and was much more into Skate Punk and Punk Rock bands. So when the opportunity to write and sing for a Celtic Punk band came about, I was a bit hesitant as it involved a steep learning curve of understanding how to work with traditional instruments like Bagpipes and Tin Whistles etc. and I didn’t want to disrespect the genre. I think it’s that naivety, and my ignorant interpretation of the genre that now gives The Cloverhearts it’s unique sound, and why people really gravitate towards the band.

Athenscalling.gr: As the lead singer, how personal are the lyrics you perform? Do they come from your own experiences or shared stories within the band?

SAM COOPER: Absolutely. Obviously every now and then I’ll write something that is purely fictitious story telling, but a song like ‘Drinking Songs’ is about the music I grew up listening to at house parties with friends. Then ‘Told Ya So’ is about my take on conspiracy theories. While ‘Love Me Like An Ocean’ was written as a cry for help in a time where I thought I’d never fall in love again. I think it’s important for writers to always write your truths, and write what you know.

Athenscalling.gr: What inspires you most when you’re writing or performing — specific artists, everyday life, or the energy of a live audience?

SAM COOPER: Great question! I write different songs with different objectives, particularly when writing for an album. Sometimes our live show will need a certain type of song to mix things up, so I’ll write for that. Or sometimes I’ll write from the heart to serve my own creativity. In general I try not to make rules and just go with the flow and see what the universe brings me!

Athenscalling.gr: How do you usually collaborate as a band when creating new music? Is there a particular process that works best for The Cloverhearts?

SAM COOPER: I’ve always been the key songwriter, and write for all the instruments. The other guys are pretty good at taking what I have and running with it, making certain parts their own and just trusting that I know what I’m doing for overall creative direction. I think next time we do an album we’ll probably mix that up and try to get more collaborative with the writing though.

Athenscalling.gr: Can you tell us about the band members and give a brief description of each?

SAM COOPER: Sure! We’ve got Cocky from Italy on drums. Steven from California, USA on Guitar and Vocals. Frank from Italy on Bass. Casey from Dallas, Texas on Bagpipes and Tin Whistles. Danny from Italy on Guitar and Vocals. I’m from Australia, and sing and write for the band.

Athenscalling.gr: My friend, I really love the sound of the bagpipes… and you, Sam, how much do you truly love the sound of the bagpipes, and what is it about that instrument that speaks to you?

SAM COOPER: It took a while for me to get used to Bagpipes, but now I love them. The only challenge for me is writing for Bagpipes as they don’t have the full range of notes an instrument like a guitar has for example, and the instrument is locked to a certain number of keys. So it’s limiting to use sometimes. But, when it works, it works and I love the power it brings on stage.

Athenscalling.gr: Going back a bit, do you remember the first album you ever bought, and how old you were?

SAM COOPER: HHhmmm, It might have been Metallica – Reload! I can’t honestly remember!

Athenscalling.gr: Now, a few words about my country! What do you actually know about Greece, either musically or culturally?

SAM COOPER: Ah-haaaa, I know a few things actually. I know that I love eating Dolmades and white wine! I know my drummer, Cocky lived in Athens for a year and won’t shut up about it. And I know we want to come to Thessaloniki to perform at Street Mode Festival. So if the organiser is reading – let’s do it!!!

Athenscalling.gr: June 2026, and since you’ll be performing at the Mighty Sounds Festival, what message would you like to send to the audience there?

SAM COOPER: Mighty Sounds is one of our favorite festivals to do. We won’t be back for a while, so if you like our band, please get to the stage early, and remember we feed off your energy. The crazier you go, the crazier we’ll go! Let’s party! Oh, and buy some merch if you wanna help us! It helps keep our band alive.

Athenscalling.gr: Looking ahead, what’s next for The Cloverhearts? Can fans expect new music, tours, or any surprises in the near future?

SAM COOPER: Yep yep! New album titled “Germaniac!” Is coming out at the end of Spring, with the first single being released in time for Valentine’s Day. We have the St. Patrick’s Tour going on in Italy, France, Switzerland and Germany for most of March, and loads of Summer Festivals being announced soon. Super busy, and couldn’t be happier.
Athenscalling.gr: All the best to your band Sam.

SAM COOPER:Thanks for taking the time to talk with me! If you’d like to keep up to date with what we do, please follow us at www.instagram/thecloverhearts