An evening with legendary piper Paddy Keenan
Friday 18th November - doors 7.30pm - An Taibhdhearc
Paddy Keenan is the foremost player of the uilleann pipes who first gained fame as a founding member of The Bothy Band. Since that group’s dissolution in the late 1970s, Keenan has released a number of solo and collaborative recordings, and continues to tour both as a soloist, and with accompanists. Paddy is from the travelling community and is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all Irish traditional musicians.
His eponymous solo record in 1975, his collaborative one with the fiddle player, Paddy Glackin (Doublin’) in ’78, along with his recordings with the legendary Bothy Band from ’76 to ’79 are all regarded as classic records of the traditional Irish genre.
Steo Wall
Steo Wall is a singer songwriter from Dublin now based in Co Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. With the release of his Debut album, Where I’m From in Sept 2018, Steo barged his way onto the Irish music scene. Mixing traditional Irish folk with some contemporary Irish rap, Steo brings the listener on a journey from the badlands of Dublin working class housing estates to the beauty of the west coast of Ireland. Steo paints a picture of rebellious loved friends and adored family members, the album being an homage to those gone before him. It’s these family members which give us an understanding of the depths of his musical influences. Sarah Doran, an ode to Steo's traveller grandmother, is the third track on the album and Davey Spillane’s whistle is a beautifully fitting tribute. Where I’m From is a mix of spoken word and folk inspired melodies all woven to an acoustic groove. Having received national and international air play, spending two weeks on RTÉ Radio1 recommended playlist, Where I’m From has been very well received and a critical sucsess thus far. Steo was asked to perform at the Inuagrul RTÉ Radio1 Folk Awards in Vicar Street in 2018. And was then asked to sing Rainy Night In Soho as part of Ireland’s Favourite Folk song in 2019, which was aired on national television. Steo has been busy touring all over Ireland and England in 2019/2020. Playing festivals, theatres and venues both sides of the pond.
No lies or gimmicks, no ulterior motives, he's the real article, this is Irish soul music.
Damien Dempsey