The Irish “supergroup” Patrick Street began with four recognized masters – Kevin Burke (ex-Bothy Band), singer/bouzouki player Andy Irvine (ex-Planxty), Jackie Daly (ex-De Dannan), and multi-instrumentalist Ged Foley (formerly of the Battlefield Band, and now in The House Band)-joining forces for a tour in 1986. Over a decade later, the group reached “legendary” status.
Fiddler Kevin Burke was born in London, England to Irish parents who came originally from Sligo, an area renowned for its traditional music, particularly that of the fiddle. As a teenager he played in music clubs throughout England and Ireland, but in 1972 a chance meeting with Arlo Guthrie brought him to the USA to play on Arlo’s album, Last Of The Brooklyn Cowboys (he would eventually make the country his home).
At Christy Moore’s beckoning, Kevin moved for a period to Ireland to join what would become one of the most influential Irish groups of the 1970s, The Bothy Band. After the band’s breakup, he recorded two classic duo albums and toured with Bothy Band guitarist Míchéal O’Domhnaill. He has also made his presence felt as a member of both The Celtic Fiddle Festival (with Johnny Cunningham) and the leader of the Irish-American outfit Open House.
As a founder of Patrick Street, Kevin gave the band’s sound and repertoire a highly ornamented Sligo fiddle style that is both “in the tradition” and full of multi-cultural surprises. “My style is a definite composite,” he said. “The old Sligo players provided the building blocks but I’ve borrowed bits and pieces from all sorts of musicians along the way.”
Andy Irvine (vocals/bouzouki/mandolin) is one of the great balladeers of Irish music. His voice is one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He was a member of two other groundbreaking groups, Sweeney’s Men (with Johnny Moynihan) and Planxty (with Christy Moore) and has worked closely with Paul Brady. Album collaborations include work with De Danann, Maddy Prior, June Tabor and Dick Gaughan.
If his voice explores an aching Irish romanticism, his remarkable bouzouki playing has brought a Balkan edge to his musical collaborations. Andy was one of the first to bring bouzouki and Bulgarian music to the Irish tradition. His collaborative album East Wind with Riverdance composer Bill Whelan featured Hungarian singer Marta Sebestyen.
Accordionist Jackie Daly comes from North Cork and plays in the style of Sliabh Luachra, the area bordering Kerry and North Cork and encompassing such towns as Castleisland and Jackie’s home, Kanturk. Sliabh Luachra is a regional style known for its lively slides and lovely, spirited polkas (of which Jackie is a master). He was a member of the famous Irish group De Dannan and has toured or recorded with the likes of Dolores Keane, Buttons And Bows, Kevin Burke (as a duo), John Faulkner and Seamus Creagh.
Ged Foley (guitar/fiddle) was born in County Durham in the North East of England. Ged (pronounced “Jed”) was a one-time member of Scotland’s The Battlefield Band and is a founding member of The House Band. For a time, he worked in a duo with the excellent English singer/songwriter Jez Lowe. He replaced original Patrick Street member Arty McGlynn in 1996. Ged is a superb guitarist, a singer of distinction with a dry, spare, unornamented style (once heard never forgotten) and a player of both the fiddle and the Northumbrian smallpipes. He currently lives in the USA.
In 2007, multi-instrumentalist John Carty joined Patrick Street. That same year, Jackie Daly left the band. Ged Foley left Patrick Street in 2009, and was replaced on a temporary basis by guitarist Arty McGlynn.
Discography:
Patrick Street (Green Linnet, 1987)
No. 2 Patrick Street (Green Linnet, 1988)
Irish Times (1990)
All In Good Time (Green Linnet, 1993)
Cornerboys (Green Linnet, 1996)
Made In Cork (Green Linnet, 1997)
Live From Patrick Street (Green Linnet, 1999)
Street Life (Green Linnet, 2002)
On The Fly (Loftus Music, 2007)
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.
