The Soundtrack of Irish Cleveland’s American Life
When Michael Crawley steps onto the stage with his musical partner, Matt Sofranko, he doesn’t just see a crowd, he sees family. Familiar faces that have shared wedding toasts, funeral tears, and countless laughs and memories across decades of Irish American life in Cleveland.
“We absorb the energy of those around us,” Crawley said. “We can tell when you’re happy, grieving, angry after a Browns loss or joyful during the holidays. When people know that we know how they’re feeling, they trust us.”
That trust has been built over more than a decade of providing the soundtrack to Cleveland’s Irish American community. Since 2020, the duo has performed 80 to 100 shows annually throughout Northeast Ohio, transitioning from their roots in the Celtic rock group Marys Lane to their current acoustic incarnation.
The View from the Stage
For Crawley, the most remarkable thing about performing is how the same song transforms depending on the audience and setting. “A simple song like Black Velvet Band’can mean so much,” he said. “It might be one person’s favorite drinking song, another’s deceased parent’s favorite tune, or might bring back memories of dancing with your mom at the old Irish festival.”
Sofranko agreed. “When you see one person crying during a song because it hit them in some deep place, it’s all of those moments. It’s most nights.”
This emotional intuition leads to moments that transcend typical performances. Crawley recalled one Saturday night at PJ McIntyre’s that followed a morning when he had piped at a young woman’s funeral. That evening, her husband’s family filled the pub. “To experience people earlier mourning the loss of their loved one, and then see them celebrating her life, was one of the most special gigs I’ve ever done,” he said.
Musical Journeys
Crawley’s musical path began in childhood. His Scottish Irish family emigrated from Glasgow to Cleveland in the 1960s, bringing with them a tradition of bagpipe music and song. His father, John began the 87th Cleveland Pipe Band, which Michael and his family have led for 38 years.
Michael’s biggest musical influence after his father is his dear friend Alec DeGabriel.
“I remember seeing Alec play all throughout my childhood, from Paddy’s Pub to the German grounds for the Irish festival. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing on stages, and it’s all because of Alec,” he said.
Sofranko’s path took a different route. “I started playing acoustic guitar when I was 16, and learned mostly by ear,” he said. “I grew up a huge rock fan – Red Hot Chili Peppers, Incubus, bands like that.”
Though his grandmother was 100 percent Irish, Sofranko wasn’t exposed to much Irish music until joining Marys Lane at age 23.
“Since then, my biggest Irish musical influence has been Michael,” he said.
Bridging Generations Through Irish Music
From the stage, Crawley and Sofranko have seen how Irish music continues to connect generations of Cleveland families. “Matt and I make a game out of this,” Crawley said. “When we see a crowd losing interest, songs like ‘Wild Rover’ and ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ will always bring people’s interest back.”
Over the years, they’ve learned to read the room, and the room has changed. Younger Irish Americans often come with more eclectic musical backgrounds.
Rather than stepping away from tradition, Crawley and Sofranko blend it with familiar favorites to create a setlist that honors Irish roots while keeping the whole room engaged. Sofranko added, “There’s no denying what a Tom Petty song can do to draw a crowd back in.”
Even with their wide repertoire, one of their favorite traditions is performing at Cleveland Irish Festival in July. They see it as a chance to reconnect with old friends, introduce new listeners to Irish music, and celebrate the community that has supported them from the start. The full schedule is on www.clevelandirish.org.
The Changing Irish Music Scene
The COVID-19 era brought changes to the local Irish music scene. Performance times shifted earlier: 8 to 11 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., a change Crawley believes will last.
“The biggest thing that’s changed is that we’re older, and it’s harder to stand up and play for three hours without a sore back and knees,” he said, half-joking. “But as we get older, so do our fans. Where they once came to bar gigs that ended at 1 a.m., now they show up to our Five Points Coffee Shop gig at 10 a.m. with their kids and parents.”
Sofranko added, “Lots of people have swapped a ‘cold beer’ for a ‘cold foam.’”
This shift has brought unexpected connections. “We didn’t realize that by diversifying where and when we play, we’d see more of people’s lives—and we’ve felt more included in their lives because of these changes,” Crawley said.
Music is More Than Entertainment
After countless shows, Crawley understands their music is more than entertainment, it’s the glue that holds a community together. Two years ago, while watching Shindig perform, he heard a song he didn’t recognize. He asked his close friend Kevin to add it to his playlist. Three days later, Kevin passed away unexpectedly. Weeks later, the forgotten song came on.
“I didn’t know what it was until the lyrics started,” Crawley said. “Then I remembered what song it was, and who put it there. It truly was my ‘Last Gift’ from Kevin.”
The song, “Summer in Dublin,” by Bagatelle, has since become a regular part of their setlist, played as a tribute to Kevin. “To be able to perform it in front of the guys who introduced us to that song is truly what Irish music is, why it’s so special to so many, and why it binds us all together,” Crawley said.
At Home in the Cleveland Irish Community
Despite his Slovak surname, Sofranko said he’s found a true home in Cleveland’s Irish community. “It might sound stereotypical, but it really is a family that I feel like I was adopted into with open arms,” he said.
One St. Patrick’s Day, as they set up for a 6 a.m. show at Nora’s in Willoughby, a regular sat at the bar in the same seat as the year before. “Man, here again, huh?” Sofranko asked him.
The response: “As long as you guys are here, I’ll be here.”
“That’s the essence of Irish music to us,” Crawley said. “It’s songs and stories brought over from Ireland that help us remember our loved ones in both sorrow and joy.”
Every time they strike up a tune, whether at a wedding, a wake, a pub night or a festival, they are helping Cleveland’s Irish story carry on, one song at a time.
