The Makem Brothers

Traditional folk group from USA. The band was founded as "The Makem Brothers" in February 1989 by Shane and Rory Makem, debuting at the now-closed Blackthorne Tavern in Easton, Massachusetts. Guitarist Brian Sullivan joined the duo soon after in 1990, and the trio changed the name to "The Makem Brothers & Brian Sullivan". The Makem Brothers and Brian Sullivan were set to perform at the Tom Clancy Memorial Concert in New York City in November 1991; for the event, they wanted a bass player. Their father, Tommy Makem, suggested their middle brother, Conor Makem, and so he debuted with his brothers and Brian Sullivan at the memorial concert.

In 1992, the quartet recorded a demo album which was later commercially released for a time. Songs on the demo included Charlie and the MTA and Maid of Fife-O. In 1994 The Makem Brothers & Brian Sullivan released their first full-length album, "Out Standing In A Field". Also that year, they made their television debut on Tommy Makem's PBS television special, Songs Of The Sea. Judy Collins also performed on that special.

Brian Sullivan left the band in 1995, and the band name was changed from "The Makem Brothers & Brian Sullivan" to just "The Makem Brothers". Brian Sullivan stayed on to play backup on The Makem Brothers' second album, "On The Rocks". The Makem Brothers continued as a trio for eight more years, releasing two more albums, Who Fears to Speak in 1998 and Stand Together in 2001. In 1997 they filmed a concert for Iowa PBS which was released on videocassette.

Rory, Shane, and Conor Makem are the three sons of "The Godfather of Irish Music" Tommy Makem, and grandsons of Irish source singer Sarah Makem.

In 2003, brothers Liam and Mickey Spain joined, and the band was renamed "The Makem & Spain Brothers". When Shane and Conor Makem left in 2014, the band was renamed "Makem & Spain".

On March 5, 2018 the band announced that they were breaking up.

Band names/band variations:
The Makem Brothers (1989-1990)
The Makem Brothers & Brian Sullivan (1990-1995)
The Makem Brothers (1995-2003)
The Makem Brothers with Mickey and Liam Spain (2003-2004)
The Makem & Spain Brothers (2004-2014)
Makem & Spain (2014-2018)

All members:
Rory Makem – vocals, six string guitar, twelve string guitar, banjo, mandolin, bouzouki, bodhrán, harmonica, piano (1989–2018)
Shane Makem – vocals, six string guitar, bass guitar, bodhran (1989-2011)
[a=Brian Sullivan (26)] – six string guitar (1990-1995)
Conor Makem – vocals, bass guitar, concertina, flute (1991-2014)
Liam Spain – vocals, guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, harmonica (2003–2018)
Mickey Spain – vocals, guitar, nylon string guitar, bodhrán (2003–2018)