THE ALAN KELLY GANG
Fronted by Ireland’s piano accordion maestro, described by New York’s Irish Voice as ‘in league with the best piano accordionists in the world’, and with three of Ireland’s finest musicians {Tola Custy (fiddle), Steph Geremia (flute & vocals) and Tony Byrne (guitar)} all critically acclaimed masters of their own craft, The Alan Kelly Gang (formerly quartet) has been creating quite a stir on the traditional & folk circuit taking their audiences by storm and impressing both music lover and critic alike. Performing beautifully arranged songs and instrumental pieces from throughout the Celtic regions including Ireland, Brittany, Asturias and Louisiana as well as original compositions that stem from a deep traditional sensitivity, skillfully executed and soulfully delivered, their sound is fresh and unique with their strong dynamics, driving rhythms and buoyant harmonies. Their music will draw even the most fainthearted listener into the passion that they put into the music they play – magical, joyous and uplifting! “The arrangements are world class, as are the musicians, and Ireland is always somewhere in the mix.” – Irish Music Magazine
The past two years have been extremely busy for the band with top festival appearances worldwide including a recent performance at WOMADelaide, but one particular highlight was when legendery Irish rockband, Horslips personally invited the band to open for them at Dublin’s O2.
The Alan Kelly Gang will be joined by internationally acclaimed, Scottish songstress, Eddi Reader, (formerly of Fairground Attraction) and Trashcan Sinatra’s guitarist and songwriter, John Douglas for this very special Irish/Scottish 2011 collaboration tour of Ireland. The tour will mark the release of The Alan Kelly Gang’s first official band album, Small Towns & Famous Nights (due out Sept 1st , 2011), which features a beautiful evocative song from Eddi Reader called Connemara.
Since 2005 Alan has toured the world as part of the Eddi Reader Band and recorded on her last four albums. His friendship with Eddi first resulted in a beautiful collaboration on a song penned by John Douglas. The collaborative work I Hung My Harp Upon The Willows appears on Alan’s 2009 album, After The Morning which was named as one of the ‘top ten musical highs of 2009’ by the Irish Times who described it as a “humdinger of a collection”. In 2010, Alan and Eddi joined forces for three Irish Festivals, The Cork Folk Festival, Sligo Live and The Galway Arts Festival. Each was a huge success, receiving glowing reviews. Scotland’s The Living Tradition magazine described the collaboration as an ‘astonishing concert’.
Eddi Reader grew up in Glasgow and Irvine, Scotland and it was in those towns that she learned to use music as a vehicle for communicating with others. She has been described as a singer with meltingly true vocals and a towering romanticism. It was her time with Fairground Attraction that really brought her into the limelight as the group’s single, Perfect and parent album, First of a Million Kisses, both topped the British charts. She also famously harmonized with Annie Lennox touring with the Eurythmics, and had a successful stint with punk outfit, Gang of Four.
She has since released seven acclaimed solo albums including the classic Songs Of Robert Burns that was released to international acclaim in 2003. Awarded the MBE in 2006 for services to singing, she took her Burns songs on tour all over the world. Her seventh solo album was released early 2009 and continues to set Eddi Reader apart through her ability not only to move the listener but to connect her experience to that of her audience.
