Links and Bio's
About Irish Music Forever
Name of Performer/Group Page 16
(The) Fenians Back to Artist List
Recent Album:
The Fenians are an exciting Irish musical quintet. The coupling of unbridled energy with a unique fusion of sounds and influences - including Celtic, Rock, Bluegrass, and World Music - defines the legendary Fenians show, prompting Robert Kinsler, of the Orange County Register to
rate the group, "the best live concert of `96 in Orange county." Not limited to the local scene, The Fenians have taken their music to pubs and festivals accross the United States and Ireland.
The band is led by Terry Casey, a first generation Irish-Amercan. Wth his lead vocals and passionate mandolin playing, Terry takes his more-than- willing audiences through the twists and turns of the fast-paced Fenians' show, keeping the ever-growing following coming back for
more of the standing-room-only performances.
Long-time member, Brendan Harkins, a fellow Irish-American, is equally at home playing bass or guitar and can be heard at the top end of The Fenians' harmonies. Rob Williams plays guitar and bass and offers rich baritone lead and backing vocals. Drummer and vocalst, Chris
Pierce, while playing behind the band, is hardly in the background, and World music specialist, Tardu Yegin, on reeds, woodwinds, and whistle round out the lineup.
The Fenians have released three projects: the highly successful Live at the Harp and A Distant City Street, featuring original songs, signature arrangements of traditional Irish selections, and a few surprises that The Fenians will leave you to pleasantly discover on your
own. Band of Rogues, released in September 1999, is the group's most ambitious effort to date. Recorded live before a sell-out audience at the Galaxy Concert Theater, the CD blends five of The Fenians' own songs along with time honored favorites (From the Fennians official web site)
Official Web Site
Recent Album: Blue Shamrock
BORN: 1954
A founding member of trad-folk Irish band De Danaan, Alec Finn released an impressive debut solo album, Blue Shamrock, in 1995. With his bouzouki and acoustic guitar accompanied by a folk-chamber group featuring tin whistle, uillean pipes,
fiddle, upright bass and cello, Finn displayed the emotional sensitivities of his musical approach. The Washington Post remarked that "these slow airs all have heartbreaking melodies and Finn has the patience and restraint to bring their beauty to full flower." Although he played
blues on his guitar, while living in Dublin, Finn turned to traditional Irish music after moving to Galway in the early '70s. Acquiring a bouzouki as a gift from a friend who traveled to Greece, he became one of the first musicians to adapt the instrument to Irish music. A
regular at Irish music sessions, he met Galway-born fiddler Frankie Gavin, banjo and melodeon player Charlie Piggot and bodhran and bones player Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh. A few months later, the four musicians agreed to form a band, which
they dubbed De Danaan. During the subsequent two decades, Finn and De Danaan toured throughout the world and recorded more than a dozen influential albums. Despite numerous personnel changes, Finn and Gavin's collaboration has remained the foundation of the band's sound. Finn's
subtle bouzouki playing has also been featured on Gavin's solo recordings.~ Craig Harris, All-Music Guide (From CD-NOW Biography)
CD NOW
Celtic Heartbeat
All Music Guide Bio
Recent Album:
Alec Finn Back to Artist List
De Dannan
Finn MacCool Back to Artist List
LA based Irish Rock group
Official Web Site
Recent Album: Herding Cats
Even before releasing an LP, the Santa Monica, California-based Celtic group Gaelic Storm left an impression on audiences worldwide through their appearance as the "steerage band" entertaining immigrant third-class passengers in James Cameron's blockbuster film epic Titanic. The
unprecedented success of the movie brought Gaelic Storm to the attention of the Higher Octave label, which in 1998 issued the group's self-titled LP. ~ Jason Ankeny, All-Music Guide (From CD-NOW Biography)
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Gaelic Storm Back to Artist List
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Arizona Irish Music Society
