Úlla Musician Rich Brotherton
Rich Brotherton grew up in Georgia but has lived in Austin, Texas for many years. He studied Music Theory and Composition at The Colorado College followed by two stays in Ireland to soak up traditional Irish music. For 25 years, he was a member of the Robert Earl Keen band. Until El Mercado Restaurant closed in December, 2025, Rich also performed as a member of the Purgatory Players at El Mercado's Gospel Brunch on Sunday mornings, with all proceeds supporting the Central Texas Food Bank. In addition, Rich owns and runs Ace Recording, an audio recording studio.
In 2025, Rich was diagnosed with ALS. Fellow musicians Andrea Magee, Pat Byrne, and Scrappy Joe Newcomb organized a benefit which took place on December 9, 2025 at the Paramount Theatre in Austin. All proceeds from the event benefited the Brotherton family to assist with upcoming medical and care expenses, via the local nonprofit Music Helps. This event featured artists from Austin and beyond who hold Rich dear, including many he has toured and/or recorded with since he moved to Austin in 1985. MC'd by Jody Denburg, performers included Lyle Lovett, Charley Crockett, Patty Griffin, Loudon Wainwright III, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock, Bruce Robison, Ed Miller, Mary Gauthier & Jaimee Harris, Warren Hood, Kathy McCarty, Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Andrea Magee, Pat Byrne, David Halley, Kris McKay, Beaver Nelson, Michael Fracasso, Gwil Owen, Matt Harlan, and others.The benefit was streamed live and the recording can be viewed here on YouTube. The show begins at 42:25 of the video.
Songs Performed by Rich with Ulla
Click on the song link to watch the performance(s) of that song or learn more about the song.
Table sortable by clicking on column heading. "Times Performed" and "Last Performed" are since Nov 2024 and will not be entirely accurate until all of the setlists from 2019 through 2024 have been entered.
| Song | Songwriter | Normal Úlla Lead | Avg Length | Times Performed |
Last Performed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bottle O' the Best | Jack Foley | Rich Brotherton | 2:57 | 3 | 2026-02-01 |
| Arthur McBride and the Sargeant | Paul Brady | Rich Brotherton | 5:46 | 2 | 2024-11-03 |
| Ballad of St Anne's Reel [w/ tune St Anne's Reel] | David Mallett | Rich Brotherton [Maddy Brotherton] | 4:25 | 19 | 2025-12-28 |
| Crooked Jack [w/ tune Maggie's Pancakes] | Dominic Behan | Rich Brotherton [Maddy Brotherton] | 4:55 | 11 | 2025-11-30 |
| Cúnla | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:52 | 1 | 2019-04-07 |
| Farewell to Carlingford | Tommy Makem | Rich Brotherton | 3:44 | 1 | 2024-11-10 |
| From Clare to Here | Ralph McTell | Rich Brotherton | 3:50 | 8 | 2026-01-04 |
| Hal-an-Tow (Sumer is icumen in) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:16 | 17 | 2026-02-01 |
| I Live Not Where I Love | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 4:42 | 1 | 2024-12-22 |
| Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard (Matty Groves) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 8:23 | 2 | 2025-03-30 |
| Lord Franklin's Lament [w/ tune The Shan Van Vocht to begin] | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 5:40 | 4 | 2025-07-13 |
| Lough Erne (The Rambling Irishman) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 4:16 | 1 | 2025-07-06 |
| Mary and the Soldier (Highland Soldier) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:47 | 8 | 2025-08-31 |
| Mattie | Johnny Mulhern | Rich Brotherton | 4:35 | 32 | 2026-02-01 |
| On Board the Kangaroo (The Good Ship Kangaroo) | Harry Clifton | Rich Brotherton | 4:14 | 12 | 2025-12-28 |
| On Ragland Road | Patrick Kavanaugh (poem) / traditional (melody) | Rich Brotherton | 4:30 | 10 | 2026-01-04 |
| Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 4:47 | 2 | 2025-12-21 |
| Paddy's Lament (Poor Paddy's Lamentations) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 4:21 | 1 | 2025-04-27 |
| Phil Brown (I Knew A Painter) | David Mallett | Rich Brotherton | 3:13 | 3 | 2025-08-10 |
| Rain Just Falls | David Halley | Rich Brotherton | 4:15 | 1 | 2025-04-27 |
| Seven Drunken Nights | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:07 | 4 | 2025-12-28 |
| She's Somebody's Daughter (Elma Turl) | Mike Cross | Rich Brotherton | 1:52 | 4 | 2026-01-11 |
| The Ballad of Rodney McCorley | Ethna Carbery | Rich Brotherton | 3:36 | 2 | 2025-08-17 |
| The Dutchman | Michael Peter Smith | Rich Brotherton | 4:33 | 2 | 2025-03-30 |
| The End of the Rainbow | Richard Thompson | Rich Brotherton | 2:28 | 3 | 2025-04-06 |
| The Fields of Athenry | Pete St. John | Pat Byrne | 4:54 | 2 | 2025-08-17 |
| The Good Ship Ragamuffin (The Shores of Botany Bay) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 2:35 | 2 | 2025-08-10 |
| The Hills of Greenmore | Owen McMahon | Rich Brotherton | 4:04 | 13 | 2026-01-04 |
| The Humours of Whiskey (Paddy's Panacea) | Joseph Lunn | Rich Brotherton | 8:33 | 2 | 2025-06-08 |
| The Jolly Highwayman (Alan Tyne of Harrow) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:37 | 4 | 2025-07-06 |
| The Leaving of Liverpool | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:22 | 12 | 2025-12-21 |
| The Little Beggarman | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 3:22 | 22 | 2026-01-11 |
| The Mountains of Mourne | Percy French | Rich Brotherton | 4:42 | 1 | 2025-08-10 |
| The Old Changing Way | Richard Thompson | Rich Brotherton | 3:54 | 2 | 2024-12-22 |
| The Ramblin' Rover | Andy M. Stewart | Rich Brotherton | 3:21 | 15 | 2026-01-11 |
| The Scotsman | Mike Cross | Rich Brotherton | 2:20 | 1 | 2025-08-10 |
| The Streets of Derry (Derry Gaol) | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 5:06 | 2 | 2025-03-30 |
| The Streets of Derry (Derry Gaol) [w/ tunes Tom Billy's & The Castle Jig] | traditional | Rich Brotherton [Maddy Brotherton] | 9:18 | 15 | 2026-01-11 |
| The Verdant Braes of Skreen | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 5:00 | 1 | 2025-03-23 |
| The Whistling Gypsy (The Gypsy Rover) | Leo Maguire | Rich Brotherton | 3:20 | 3 | 2025-09-14 |
| Time to Ring Some Changes | Richard Thompson | Rich Brotherton | 3:31 | 31 | 2026-02-01 |
| Trip to Jerusalem | Joe Dolan | Rich Brotherton | 3:33 | 1 | 2025-02-16 |
| Waltzing's for Dreamers | Richard Thompson | Rich Brotherton | 4:00 | 7 | 2025-11-02 |
| When First I Came to Caledonia | traditional | Rich Brotherton | 4:01 | 13 | 2026-02-01 |
| [tune] Planxty Irwin | Turlough O'Carolan | Rich Brotherton/Maddy Brotherson | 4:35 | 1 | 2025-04-27 |
45 songs
