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| Description |
Andy Irvine has been hailed as "a tradition in himself." Musician, singer and songwriter, Andy has maintained both personal integrity and highly individual performing skills throughout his 40-year career. From Sweeney's Men in the mid sixties to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s, to THE Irish super group, Patrick Street, in the 80s, Andy has been a world music pioneer and icon for traditional music and musicians.
Irvine occupies a unique place in the musical world, plying his trade as archetypal troubadour, with a solo show and traveling lifestyle that reflects his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie. Few others can equal his repertoire, Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dance tunes, and a compelling canon of his own material that defies description.
In his two years with Sweeney's Men, the group ignited an interest in traditional Irish music that survives to this day. Their successful singles, "Old Maid in the Garret" and "The Waxie's Dargle" landed at the very top of the Irish Hit Parade.
Andy left the band in 1968, and made his first trip 'way out yonder', traveling by 'the sunburnt thumb' in Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia, earning his living as a street musician and absorbing the musical traditions of the Balkans. Returning to Ireland, Irvine united with Christy Moore, Donal Lunny and Liam O'Flynn to form Planxty, fanning the flames of Irish Traditional Music well into the next generation.
Planxty took a break in 1976 and Irvine worked and recorded with Paul Brady, making the classic album Andy Irvine & Paul Brady. After a brief time with De Dannan, he rejoined the reunited Planxty from 1979 until its breakup in 1983. . Andys his first solo album, Rainy Sundays ... Windy Dreams, followed, as well as Parallel Lines a duo album with the great Scots troubadour, Dick Gaughan.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Andy formed Mosaic, a pan-European band that included Donal Lunny and Hungarian singer Marta Sebestyen. After one blissful summer traveling through Europe with this band, Andy returned to solo and duo work. This work soon grew into Patrick Street, featuring Kevin Burke (Bothy Band), Jackie Daly (De Danaan) and guitar maestro Arty McGlynn.
Patrick Street, originally billed as Legends of Irish Music one of the few times such hoopla was accurate, recorded three albums from 1987 to 1990. Andy then recorded his second solo album, Rude Awakening, and created the hugely influential East Wind, an album of Balkan music, produced by Bill Whelan and featuring Davy Spillane on Uilleann Pipes. Patrick Street regrouped in 1993 with Kevin, Jackie, Andy, and Ged Foley. To date Patrick Street has released eight recordings, all on the Green Linnet label.
Early in 2002, Andy drafted some long-time musical friends and formed his dream band for a one-off tour of Australia. Calling themselves Mozaik, reminiscent of the earlier cross-genre group, Andy was joined by Donal Lunny, Dutch guitarist Rens van der Zalm, Hungarian bagpiper Nikola Parov and American fiddler Bruce Molsky. They have since released two albums, "Live from the Powerhouse" (2003) and "Changing Trains" (2007) and have toured Australia, Europe and America.
Planxty reunited in early 2004 for 10 reunion concerts in Ireland, which all sold out the same day the tickets went on sale. The concerts were recorded for CD and DVD releases, "Planxty Live, 2004."
Andy continues to tour with Patrick Street, which released their eleventh album in November 2007, called "On the Fly." It marks a transition for the band: the first with new member John Carty, and the last with retiring member Jackie Daly.
In January 2008, Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow featured a special reunion of Andy Irvine and Paul Brady for their "Classic Album" showcase concert, honoring their duo album released in 1976.
Andy continues to tour extensively, both solo, with Patrick Street and Mozaik, throughout Europe, Australia and America with occasional visits to more distant places like Brazil and Japan.
Although an integral part of the finest Irish bands of our time, Andy Irvine continues along the road he set for himself so long ago - a vibrant career as a solo artist in the old style, a teller of stories and maker of music.
More quotes....
Woody would have been proud.
Denver Post
Andy Irvine's solo stage show is a musical travelogue through time and space. His right hand dexterity on bouzouki was nothing short of amazing.
Frets Magazine
Andy is one of the most creative and talented people it has ever been my privilege to work with. Great company, superb singer, genius of a musician, truly original songwriter and an inspiration to all of us - what more could anyone ask?
Dick Gaughan
Andy Irvine is Irelands Woody Guthrie, with a philosophers ear and a prophets passionate voice. He is also a stunning singer and instrumentalist who weaves melody and texture, harmony and rhythm, into a rich tapestry of present and past. |
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