Paddy Keenan - Master Irish Uilleann piper and co-founder of the incomparable Bothy Band, Paddy is unique. He comes from a travelling family steeped in traditional music. Paddy took up the pipes at the age of ten, playing his first major concert at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin when he was only 14. Paddy’s flowing, open-fingered style of playing can be traced directly from the style of such great travelling pipers as Johnny Doran; both Paddy’s father and grandfather played in the same style. His own style is highly influenced by his father’s tutelage.
In his late teens Paddy fell in love with Jazz, Blues & and early Rock and Roll (as many did at the time) and left his home of Ireland for England and greater Europe, where he managed to not only learn the music but also incorporate these new found influences into a truly original and unlikely style for the Uilleann Pipes. Still heavily traditional but effected by techniques unknown to his predecessors.
Once Returning to Ireland Some years later, Paddy began playing around Dublin with singer / pianist Triona Ni Dhomhnaill and her brother, singer/guitarist Micheal O Dhomhnaill. Thus was born one of the most influential Irish bands of the 1970s, The Bothy Band!
Paddy is widely regarded globally to be among the best and most influential of all Uilleann pipers . The Focal Point is so very thankful for our long friendship. We are always delighted to have him and are endlessly grateful that he has chosen us as his favorite Midwestern stop!
This year Paddy will be accompanied by John Bolduan on guitar and tenor banjo. John is St. Louis’ very own traditional Irish instrumentalist, songwriter, sound engineer and all around man about town..
His first album entitled "Can't Fight Fire with a Match" features lively melodies, heartfelt lyrics and tasteful fingerstyle guitar licks that border on virtuoso while remaining remarkably pleasant to the casual listener. The album was debuted at the highly regarded Focal Point music venue in St. Louis.