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Archives
November 2008
- As many of you know, Kevin Burke was
a member of the Bothy Band, still regarded to this day
as one of the most influential groups ever to play Irish music.
The Irish Postal Service, An Post, has issued a series of stamps
honouring the Bothy Band and 3 other traditional groups: De
Danaan, Planxty, and The Tulla Ceili Band. The stamps are based
on original illustrations by Finbarr O'Connor, and you can view
them at irishstamps.ie.
November 2008
- Kevin Burke and Cal Scott have been
added to the bill for the 2009 International
Music Festival held in Houston, Texas. Piper Tom Creegan
is also attending the Festival and will be performing a few
sets with Kevin. Other performers include Los Lobos,Scottish
Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis,
Beoga, and Cherish the
Ladies. More info to come in a later newsletter.
November 2008
- Have you heard The
Dave Munnelly Band? If not, give them a listen. Kevin
first met Dave a couple of years ago in Westport, Co Mayo where
they enjoyed a few impromtu tunes together. Just recently Dave
and the band were passing through Portland, OR, so a great night
out was had at the Moon and Sixpence. Paul Kelly, the band's
left-handed fiddler sat in with the Foghorn
String Band for a few tunes (playing Caleb's
right handed mandolin, right handed! Not bad for a lefty!) The
following night they arrived back into the Moon and Sixpence
too late for the session but too early for their plane, so they
struck up on their own for an hour or two. When closing time
came, around 2 am, they set off downtown for some sight seeing
before catching their flight back to Ireland! Up Mayo!!
November 2008
- Kevin will, once again, be performing
with Cal Scott and the Trail
Band for their annual Holiday Concerts. He is featured as
a "Special Guest" along with the great Linda
Hornbuckle in the early December shows. The dates and venues
are listed to the left.
November 2008
- Looking for a special new drink to get you through it all?
Look no further than the San Franciso Chronicle: THE PARTY LINE
Toast the creation of drinks almost as beautiful as you!
by Carolyn Zinko
The Cunningham, Clock Bar, Westin St. Francis Hotel
$13 Named for fiddler Johnny Cunningham (1957-2003)
1 1/2 ounce Johnny Walker Black
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce fresh blood orange juice
1/2 ounce Benedictine
1/4 ounce cherry brandy
3 brandied cherries
Disc of orange peel, 1 inch diameter.
Shake first five ingredients together well and strain into a
chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with brandied cherries speared
on a toothpick. Light match 1 inch above drink. Hold orange
peel 2 inches above match and squeeze peel, releasing oil and
creating a burst of flame over drink. When flame goes out, drop
peel into drink.
Slaandjivaa!
October 2008
- A 30 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION of If the Cap Fits,
newly re-mastered and re-packaged with additional photographs
and forward by Earle Hitchner of The Wall St Journal and Irish
Echo is available now at KevinBurke.com. September 23rd is the
official release date, but pre-orders are welcome and will be
processed right away.
When it was first released all those
years ago If the Cap Fits was recognised immediately as a ground
breaking recording and, to this day, it continues to be a favourite
among fiddle afficionados.
Michael Simmons from Amazon.com says:
Kevin Burke released this solo debut in 1978 while he was still
a member of the Bothy Band . Thus when the Bothies split up
for good the following year, the shock of the blow was lessened
by the knowledge that former members of the band would still
make music like this. Burke's unassailable technique and musicality
allowed him to introduce modern arrangements and recording techniques
to the conservative Irish fiddle world with barely a murmur
of protest. Burke's fiddling on If the Cap Fits continues to
inspire musicians. Indeed, his versions of dance tunes have
become standards in Irish sessions around the world.
Compass Records, who acquired the rights
from Mulligan records, have remastered the cd and have also
included some additional notes and photographs. Compass described
If the Cap Fits as follows:
Kevin Burke has been called Ireland's most lyrical fiddler.
This landmark solo album, along with his association with The
Bothy Band and Patrick Street, shows why he is a musician of
rare and immense talent. Kevin has always been known for his
highly individual style-vibrant, expressive, relaxed, and, at
times, humorous. He is joined on this classic album by Paul
Brady, Donal Lunny and Jackie Daly among others.
Kevin himself says:
I was thrilled to hear that Compass were going to re-release
this record. They have done a great job with the packaging and
remastering. I was on the road somewhere when they sent me a
copy of the new master for approval. When I sat down to check
it out I realised I hadn't heard it all the way through for
years, maybe not since it came out in the Seventies! I'm delighted
to say I enjoyed it immensely - it was like visiting an old
friend that you haven't seen for years and finding out you still
get on great with one another!
I remember having a great time during the recording sessions.
We were in Lombard studios in Dublin and Donal Lunny was the
producer. He steered me through the whole process - his contribution
was invaluable. Also, the musicians and crew were all really
supportive and gave me lots of help. When it came time to think
about the album cover I happened to meet Willy Matthews who
had just come over to Ireland and was looking for work - as
an album cover designer! (Willy is now a very successful artist
in Denver CO, specialising in Western Art).
Somehow If the Cap Fits caught the imagination of lots of people
and, to this day, I'm often asked about it, so it's great that
it is readily available once more.
........................................................
October 2008 -
Irish National Radio (RTE) recently broadcast, in 3 parts, a
night of memorable music from Ómós - A Gig for
Mícheál, a live concert honouring the passing
of Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. There was a huge
cast of Mícheál's musical friends but the emotional
highlight for many was the reunion of the Bothy Band who played
together publicly for the first time in almost 30 years.
........................................................
 
Louis O'Dwyer and Lucy Bradley, proprietors
of Littlewood
B&B, Tullamore, with their daughter Emily. Only 90 minutes
from Dublin, a perfect place to unwind (or even rewind!).
"More Cowbell", says Louis!
........................................................
October, 2006........The album that
Kevin has been working on most recently, a joint effort with
Cal Scott,
is now scheduled for a release date in January 2007.
This exciting project, featuring several traditional pieces
as well as compositions by both Kevin and Cal, has been developing
over the last couple of years. Cal was working on a TV documentary
about the Troubles in Northern Ireland ( "The Road to
Bloody Sunday") and engaged Kevin in the project as
a consultant. When the documentary was done Kevin and Cal continued
to meet mainly for the purpose of investigating further some
of the various musical possibilities that arose during their
collaboration on the TV project. The friendship and musical
relationship grew and the decision was made to record some of
their ideas just to see where they might lead. This CD is the
result of several of those ideas.
..........................................
Patrick Street on
tour in England and Ireland....
Kevin pretending to be Brendan Gleesan
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Andy
gets the sound check going.....
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Jackie
and John
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John
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September, 2006........Patrick Street
had a wonderful two weeks touring in England. The English leg
of the tour concluded with a tremendous concert in the beautiful
Sage Theatre in Gateshead and "the lads" set
off in great spirits for a week of concerts in Ireland. The
emotional high was short-lived, however, when, after an early
start the following morning, the band had to spend many hours
stuck in motorway traffic. They reached the airport with just
enough time to make the flight - or so they thought! In normal
circumstances that would have been true, but with the increased
security restrictions and the intransigent attitudes of the
airline and airport staff they were denied access to the flight.
Luckily there was a flight later in the day so all was not lost.
At ten minutes to nine that evening the band arrived at Tullamore
Rugby Club for a nine o'clock show! Everyone involved was
wonderfully helpful and patient, particularly Tom Stapleton
the promoter, and before long the concert was underway and a
great night was had by all! Even Gerry Conway was there, from
the long departed and lamented legendary Bolger's Hotel
(home of Mrs. Flannery's Folk Club). Once the music took over
it didn't take long for the travel tribulations to be banished.
Again, many thanks are due to Tom Stapleton for helping to steer
such a hideous day into a wonderful night. Thanks, Tom.
Patrick Street has also begun working
on a new CD, scheduled to be released in late 2007 for their
US tour in Oct/Nov. This will be Patrick Street's first
recording since John Carty joined the band.
..........................................
August, 2006........It has been confirmed
that the great violinist Gilles
Apap, will be joining Kevin and his friends on the Celtic
Fiddle Festival US tour which begins in late October. Due
to prior commitments Gilles will not be able to perform on the
opening dates of the tour; but, from October 29th in Fairfield,
Connecticut (and possibly, with a little luck, from October
28th in the Somerville Theatre, Somerville, MA) until
the final date in The Ark, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Gilles
will be able to join in for all the concerts. It should be a
great meeting of musical ideas and styles!
..........................................
July 14, 2006........Micheal
O Domhnaill, dear friend and long time musical colleague,
passed away at home in Dublin on Saturday, July 8th, 2006. This
shocking news has brought immeasurable sadness to his family
and friends. His loss will be felt deeply by all who knew him
and by all who were ever held in thrall by the power and beauty
of his music, R.I.P
..........................................
October 2005........Since
1994, when they first met, Kevin and singer/instrumentalist
Ged Foley have
played a lot of music together but In
Tandem is their first duo recording. It will come
as no surprise to anyone who knows their music that this CD
is a work of smooth, unhurried elegance. Ged's recent move to
Germany from Ohio has increased quite drastically the geographical
distance between these two men (Kevin makes his home on the
West Coast of America) but musically they have never been closer.
Their initial meeting in '94 was brought about when Ged joined
the renowned Irish band "Patrick Street" of
which Kevin was a founding member. Since then, through the work
of both "Patrick Street" and "The Celtic
Fiddle Festival", most of their playing has been heard
in a group context but In
Tandem highlights the strength of their musical bond
with a thoughtful and eclectic mix of material drawn from traditional
and contemporary music. The contemporary material ranges from
two of Kevin’s compositions to a song written by Sting;
the traditional from Ged’s formative years in a mining
village in County Durham to Kevin’s involvement as a boy
in Irish music sessions in London and Sligo.
With a major European tour scheduled for late 2005 and with
news of Ged's imminent departure for Germany, Kevin & Ged
decided it was time to bring to fruition the idea of making
the duo record that had been casually discussed many times over
the years. In mid 2005, they entered the studio of their good
friend Bernie Nau in Pomeroy, Ohio, set up some microphones,
checked that the sounds of the instruments and voice were to
their liking, and just sat down and played; they played pieces
old and new, familiar and near forgotten, simple and more complex,
until finally, two days later, the recording was complete. With
a minimum of studio 'effects', the sophistication of the production
skills and musical craftsmanship is very much in evidence as
is to be expected from two musicians who for many years have
been playing music at the highest level of the genre.
In Tandem presents the listener with both the intimacy and
immediacy of a deeply personal, almost private, performance
- not to be missed!
In
Tandem is now available for
purchase on this website!
..........................................
May 2005 .......In April
Patrick Street
toured Ireland for the first time in many years. The band performed
ten highly successful concerts in ten days and was greeted with
great acclaim all around the country. John Carty was included
in the lineup for the first time. The addition of his banjo
and flute playing coupled with the twin fiddling of John and
Kevin have greatly broadened the sound of the band.
Many old friends came out to enjoy and renew
their acquaintance with Patrick
Street on this Irish tour including several well
known people from the Irish music world.....Sharon
Shannon, singer Niamh
Parsons, the great Cork fiddler Matt Crannitch, Winnie Horan
and Deirdre Scanlon from the wonderful Irish band, Solas, and
Bill Whelan, composer of Riverdance and producer of Patrick
Street's third album, Irish Times.
Patrick
Street is following this successful Irish tour with
a UK tour in September 2005 and a US tour is being planned for
February/March 2006.
.........................................
April/May 2005 .......Kevin
is one of Irish America Magazine's Top
100 Irish Americans. "There are those who made our list
simply because they make us happy through their music, such
as Kevin Burke, the Irish Fiddle player......" Patricia
Harty, Editor-in-Chief
...........................................
March
2005...While in New York, 
Kevin was delighted to be asked to make a guest appearance on
Tony Demarco's new recording.
At the controls in the studio.......
Fionn O'Lochlainn.
.......................................
Some photos from the March 2005
Celtic Fiddle Festival tour........
. ..........................................Play
On
Ged
and Andre during the recording of West Virginia's great radio
show, The Mountain Stage.
............
Christian
and Andre in search of backstage refreshments.
.............
Kevin
and Andre play a few post-concert tunes in the hotel room. Luckily
the neighbors didn't mind - they were there!
.............
Vintage Celtic Fiddle Festival
1993
Christian, Kevin, Johnny and John McGann ................1994
Johnny, Soig Siberil, Christian and Kevin..........1998
Christian, Tony McManus, Johnny and Kevin
............................
February 3,
2005 ..... Kevin is currently
on the East Coast. He joins Phil Cunningham, Susan McKeown,
Seamus Egan and Aidan Brennan for a series of Johnny
Cunningham Tribute Concerts. Johnny passed away in December
2003 leaving behind a legacy of wonderful music. These concerts
will be an opportunity to remember and celebrate Johnny's life
and music, and will also assist in raising funds for the "Johnny
Cunningham Foundation" which is being set up to benefit
younger Scottish musicians of the future.
..........................
Celtic Fiddle Festival
February 3,
2005 ...... "Play ON..."
is scheduled for release in February 2005. Recorded in Portland,
Oregon, this new CD is dedicated to the memory of Johnny Cunningham
and also welcomes the spirited Quebecois fiddler, Andre Brunet.
The group will be touring the US in March 2005 and are in the
process of arranging a visit to Europe in January 2006.
.........................
February 3,
2005 ...... Kevin has recently
been working on a new solo recording which is tentatively scheduled
for release some time in the later part of 2005. It features
guest appearances by several performers, such as Cal Scott,
Johnny B.Connolly and Michael McGoldrick.
..........................
February 3,
2005 ....... Patrick Street has
expanded its line-up with the inclusion of the multi-talented,
multi-intrumentalist John Carty. John won the coveted "Traditional
Musician of the Year" award and will be a great addition
to the band. Patrick Street's first tour with the line-up
is scheduled for April 2005 and will feature approximately a
dozen concert appearances throughout Ireland.
Patrick Street will
be touring the UK in September 2005.
.........................
Aisling Benefit
Concert
February 3,
2005 ........ Just before Christmas
2004 a wonderful concert took place in Vicker Street. Sean Smyth
(of Lunasa) was one of the principal organizers of what
turned out to be a great evening of music featuring Lunasa,
Altan, Karan Casey's band and a special guest
appearance by Kevin. Kevin was particularly honoured to be invited
to participate in the concert as all the proceeds were donated
to Aisling, a charitable organization based in London.
Aisling is doing fantastic work aiding so many of the
less fortunate elderly Irish people who may wish to go back
to their homeland after so many years away.
..........................
SUMMIT MEETING OF IRISH
MUSIC STARS
First time ever - One night only - in Westport, CT - Concert
on May 7th...
March 2004........The
West of Ireland meets America's West Coast as two Irish traditional
masters, fiddler Kevin Burke and accordionist John
Whelan, join forces with California guitar great John Brennan
in a dynamic evening of traditional Irish tunes and exciting
original works.
The concert is the brainchild of Brennan,
a former fixture of the Southern California country-rock scene
(POCO, Graham Nash, The Eagles' Bernie Leadon and The Byrds'
Chris Hillman), now a Westport resident and Irish music enthusiast.
"One of my dreams has been to approach traditional Irish
music with traditional American instruments, such as slide guitar
and dobro," he says.
Brennan has begun working with John Whelan,
a seven-time All-Ireland champion with a dazzling performance
style, a London, England native who has also settled in Connecticut.
The Irish Echo reviewed one of their local performances as "skillful,
spot-on playing, spiked by welcome risk-taking and wit. Intriguing
medleys included Brennan's bluesy, down-in-the-delta bottleneck
guitar to Whelan's masterfully played slow airs and reels...a
graceful rendition of 'The Water is Wide' shifted into a western
swing tempo...It all worked splendidly."
Joining this summit meeting is Green Linnet
recording artist Kevin Burke, considered one of the all-time
greats of Irish music. Renowned for his silky, elegant fiddling
in the County Sligo style, Burke is a veteran of Ireland's legendary
Bothy Band and a winner of the NEA's National Heritage Fellowship.
The New York Times calls him "impressively virtuosic...a
superior instrumentalist in any idiom." Burke will bring
his own rich tradition to this meeting of the masters, in what
promises to be a very special night of shared traditions and
new musical horizons.
..........................
March 2004.....Kevin
is currently on tour with the Celtic Fiddle Festival. The tour
proceeded as planned with the addition of French Canadian fiddler
Andre Brunet of La
Bottine Souriante. The fiddlers are performing in memory
of their dear friend and fellow musician extrordinare Johnny
Cunningham.
.........................
December 2003......"On
Dec 16th, 2003 I received the shocking news that Johnny
Cunningham had passed away earlier that day. Johnny was
a close musical colleague and dear friend for many years and
to have him taken away so suddenly is a source of great sadness.
His music lives on and so do many wonderful memories. The photograph
below shows Johnny on Hadrian's Wall adopting a very apt "Marauding
Celt" posture." Kevin
Soig Siberil,
Kevin and Johnny
...............................
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