Pat Broaders, born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, began his musical career at the age of eight. Initially playing the whistle, he soon transitioned to the uilleann pipes under the guidance of Leon Rowsome. In 1988, he expanded his musical repertoire by taking up the bouzouki and guitar, influenced by bands such as Planxty and the popularity of the instrument in Dublin’s vibrant traditional music scene.
Pat’s vocal abilities developed naturally, inspired by his father, a singer, and his exposure to Dublin’s rich singing tradition. His repertoire now spans traditional Irish songs, as well as ballads from both the English and Scottish traditions.
In the early 1990s, Pat moved to Chicago, where he became a fixture in the Irish music community. He has performed and recorded with renowned musicians such as Dennis Cahill, Liz Carroll, Martin Hayes, John Doyle, and Paddy O’Brien, among others. He also holds one of the longest-running Irish music gigs in Chicago, performing regularly at Kitty O’Shea’s.
Pat’s collaborations extend beyond the Irish and Celtic music scene, including a long-standing relationship with the Norwegian new age group Secret Garden and Kongshavan Studios. Additionally, he has toured with Jimmy Keane and Bohola for over 15 years and performed with the Celtic Legends show, which toured across Europe, Asia, and South America.
Outside of performing, Pat is dedicated to teaching the pipes and runs Pipedream Studio, where he engineers albums for various artists, including Liz Knowles, Larry Nugent, and Celtic Legends.
Pat performs with the trio Open the Door for Three, along with fiddler Liz Knowles and piper Kieran O’Hare. Their fourth album together, A Prosperous Gale, was released in 2024.
Discography:
Open the Door for Three (self-release, 2012)
The Penny Wager (self-release, 2015)
The Joyful Hour (self-release, 2017)
A Prosperous Gale (self-release, 2024)
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.