Éamonn Coyne, who now lives in Edinburgh is originally from Dublin (Ireland). He learned his playing from a variety of sources and is a member of the younger generation of Irish musicians.
In the music scene he has performed and recorded with a vast array of people including Siobhan and Tommy Peoples, The Wrigley Sisters (cds ‘Hunterland’ and ‘Mither o’ the Sea’), Eileen Ivers (Ex Riverdance), Sharon Shannon, Jonny Hardie (Old Blind Dogs) and Gavin Marwick (cd Blue Lamp), Russell’s House (cd ‘Russell’s House‘), and most recently Scottish international band Salsa Celtica (‘El Agua De La Vida‘ & ‘El Camino‘).
Along with traditional Irish music, Éamonn has a keen interest in other types of music including American country, old-time music, and jazz. His connection with the internationally renowned jazz/bluegrass 5-string banjo astronaut, and recent Grammy winner Alison Brown and her fabulous Quartet has embodied some of these interests.
Éamonn has played and toured with the Alison Brown Quartet (ABQ) over the last number of years at events including Celtic Connections 2001-2006, Shetland Folk Festival 2001 & 2005 a July 2001 tour of Ireland and an August 2001 tour in the USA. He also joined ABQ for Cambridge Folk Festival 2002 and Celtic Colours 2002, which Éamonn was returning to after playing at the first one in 1997.
His connection to country music was highlighted almost a decade ago when he met for the first time and recorded with notable bluegrass musicians, Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas. Also associated with that project, a Nashville special for TV, were renowned Irish musicians, Davy Spillane, Seán Keane (The Chieftains), and Philip Donnelly (Ex John Prine band & Nancy Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra).
Éamonn has toured extensively with solo projects and with different bands in places such as Russia, Estonia, United States of America, Cape Breton (Canada) and throughout Europe. As well as performing and touring regularly with Salsa Celtica, he has in the past toured with Russell’s House, Darth?n, and Stockton’s Wing.
Éamonn’s first solo CD, Through the Round Window, on Compass Records, was released in the US on 13th August 2005. It is a work of banjo music and more featuring Éamonn on tenor banjo, mandolin, tenor guitar, 6-string guitar and tenor national steel guitar. Accompanying him on the CD are a host of luminaries of the Irish music scene and beyond including: Alison Brown, 5-string banjo; Dermot Byrne and Ciarán Curran of Altan; Kevin Doherty of Four Men and a Dog; Michael McGoldrick of Capercaillie; Tom Morrow of Dervish; and Ethna Coyne (nano) his grandmother.
Other guests on through the round window are: Kendrick Freeman, from California on snare; Jimmy Higgins of Galway also on snare drum; Russell Hunter of Edinburgh on piano; Pat Marsh from Clare on bouzouki and guitar; Paul O’Driscoll of Clare on bass; and Sandy Wright from Edinburgh on guitars and dobro.
Éamonn has also recorded with Russell’s House, a band based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their first cd Russell’s House, was released in 1999. The band are Simon Bradley on fiddle, Éamonn Coyne on banjo, Sandy Wright on guitar & vocals and Russell Hunter on piano & fiddle. More info from www.russellshouse.co.uk.
Most recently Éamonn has been touring and recording with Salsa Celtica and their 4th album, El Camino.
Éamonn & Kris Drever (guitars, vocals, mandolin) have just finished a new CD ‘Honk Toot Suite’ which is due for release in Summer 2006.
Discography:
Through the Round Window (Compass, 2002)
Honk Toot Suite (Compass, 2007)
Storymap (Reveal Records, 2013)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
