SEAN GRIFFIN (OF THE RUFFIANS) RELEASES HOLIDAY SINGLE
“I’M IN LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS”
“People Are Mad” (debut solo single) and “Rocks Off” (follow-up) have already marked Griffin’s creative resurgence—earning early spins on SiriusXM’s Celtic Crush and praise for his swaggering Britpop-meets-Celtic punk edge. Now he turns that charm toward the holidays.
“Nights out at the pub with a pint of Guinness in hand are hard to beat—but they are even better with one talented musical force: Seán Griffin.” - Irish American News (on “People are Mad”)
“ ‘Rocks Off‘ is exactly what the doctor ordered if you’re craving a shot of pure unpretentious rock ‘n’ roll. “ - Sinusoidal Music (on “Rocks Off”)
“...a suitably hard-hitting and punk-inflected sound, melding banjos and guitars with irresistible rhythms to create a style that continues to showcase the distinctive flavour of his work while packing a compelling punch.’ - CLOUT (on “Rocks Off”)
“‘The track is part Barenaked Ladies, part Jimmy Buffett, and will bury its melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners.” - Neufutur (on “People are Mad”)
Veteran singer-songwriter Sean Griffiin, founding frontman of Celtic punk favorites The Ruffians, unwraps a brand-new seasonal original, “I’m In Love for Christmas,” out November 7 via Right Track Records / Universal. Where his rowdy solo debut “People Are Mad” and the guitar-driven “Rocks Off” channeled pub-floor catharsis and Britpop swagger, this new single leans into classic pop craft. chiming guitars, wry romance, and a chorus made for mistletoe sing-alongs.
“I wrote this song in December of 2004, just after meeting my wife,” Griffin told Magnet Magazine. “I was scheduled to play live on WFUV’s Irish show that morning and ended up writing ‘I’m in Love for Christmas’ about an hour before going on air. We’d only met that October, so it was our first Christmas together—full of hope, chaos, and magic. We were married the following April, and now, 29 years and six kids later, the song feels even more special. It’s a little love letter to that first Christmas, and to every one we’ve shared since.”
With a melodic wink that nods to Big Star and Jarvis Cocker, “I’m In Love for Christmas” showcases Griffin’s gift for storytelling, equal parts tender and cheeky, while expanding the sonic world he’s been building throughout 2025. It’s a festive detour that still bears his signature grit, delivered with the warmth of a hearthside singalong.
The new single follows the momentum of “People Are Mad,” a beer-sloshing, end-of-the-world barroom anthem, and “Rocks Off,” a wall-of-sound rocker that leans into Griffin’s NYC punk roots and Britpop influences. Together, the tracks highlight the range of a songwriter gearing up for his debut solo album (2026), from pub stompers to swaggering rock, and now, a modern holiday classic in the making.
