Andy
Irvine 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 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. . Andy's 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. The response was so positive that they might well have another go at it. October 2002 saw the release of Patrick Street's Street Life, arguably their best ever. It showcases an ecumenical approach, while never letting go of the tradition that binds these amazing musicians, all at the very top of their game. 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.
Andy is like an old
friend.
Hot Press Andy
Irvine has been one of Ireland's most creative talents for over 20 years. The concert was an unqualified success, Irvine delivering
a wonderfully diverse set that included traditional and contemporary Irish songs,
American songs and Bulgarian dance tunes. Andy
Irvine's live solo performance was informative, witty, intense, full of a love
for the music, which he transmitted to the audience with an honesty that only
the truly committed can attain. His
forte, his genius is playing his mandolin, mandola and bouzouki. I have never
heard such clarity of sound, such perfect and precise rhythmic variations or such
brilliant melodic figures from this family of instruments. Irvine turned in a dazzling display of one-man-bandsmanship. 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. Woody would have been
proud. Irvine's voice and accompaniment
combine in a spell-weaving fashion, his story songs so fully animated that it's
easy to understand how some cultures get along just fine without cable TV. Andy Irvine is a tradition in himself. The Noam Chomsky of Irish Balladry chisels out a
new motherlode of sung literature. A bloody masterpiece. What
makes an evening with Irvine so special is that every note he picks and every
line he sings comes from the heart. Everything he touches is performed with honesty
and conviction and his playing is never less than breathtaking. By any measure
Irvine is one of the towering talents on the International folk scene. His artistry is quite simply unique. Andy Irvine is Ireland's Woody Guthrie, with
a philosopher's ear and a prophet's 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. Andy Irvine
is someone whose singing I have always loved. He always takes you to the place
he's in. He creates a world … Andy singing a song like Bonny Woodhall or
West Coast of Clare, or a song like The Jolly Beggar, songs of another era, but
tapped into beautifully by Andy and his treatment of them. I
love that record. I absolutely love that record. [Andy Irvine/Paul Brady, Mulligan
Album, 1976] I've had the wonderful pleasure
of working and touring with Andy on numerous occasions. He's a great musician. July
2001, Recipient of the Fiddler's Green Hall of Fame Award during the 15th Annual
Fiddler's Green Festival, Rostrevor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland Andy Irvine: Selected Past Venues This is a representative list
of USA venues and premier world festivals at which Andy Irvine has performed in
the last ten years. Not included are general concert venues in Ireland, Canada,
United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and
Japan. |
