Kevin Burke

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Kevin Burke is one of the great fiddle players in the history of Irish music. His technical virtuosity is matched with soulful musicality, a deep knowledge of the Irish traditional repertoire and a unique personal style. A generation of Irish fiddle players have been inspired and influenced by his silky-smooth tone, pulsing rhythmic bowing and crisply executed ornamentation, but Kevin’s art defies imitation.

Born in London to Irish parents, Kevin began playing at the age of seven and soon found his way to the forefront of the vibrant Irish music scene in “the Big Smoke,” serving an apprenticeship in the 1960s in London dance halls and with the All-Ireland champion Glenside Ceili Band. A chance meeting with Arlo Guthrie in County Clare led to his first journey to the U.S., where he found himself meeting New York fiddle great Andy McGann and recording in Los Angeles with slide guitarist Ry Cooder. Kevin’s reputation was steadily growing, leading to invitations to join Christy Moore’s band and the famous Bothy Band, widely regarded as the greatest Irish traditional music group of all time.

Next Kevin formed a partnership with guitarist and singer Mícheal Ó Domhnaill, and later became a mainstay of the groups Patrick Street, Open House, and the Celtic Fiddle Festival. His performances in recent years have often been totally solo or, as he calls it, “the naked fiddle.” This would be an intimidating high-wire act for many musicians, but Kevin’s easy manner and clever wit create an intimate bond with audiences and produce often spell-binding performances.

“A fiddle icon.” Irish Music Magazine

“A lyrical player of emotional electricity.” The Washington Post

“Burke imparts a rhythmic intensity that is remarkably powerful…a superior instrumentalist in any idiom…impressively virtuosic.” The New York Times