Andy Irvine (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Irvine
Irvine playing a guitar-bodied Irish bouzouki at Lottes Musiknacht (27 November 2016).
Background information
Birth name	Andrew Kennedy Irvine
Born	(1942-06-14) 14 June 1942 (age 83) St John's Wood, London, England
Genres	Irish English Scottish Old-time American Bulgarian Balkan Australian folk music
Occupation(s)	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals mandolin mandola bouzouki hurdy-gurdy guitar-bodied bouzouki harmonica
Years active	1962–present
Awards	2018 RTÉ Radio 1 Lifetime Achievement Award

Andrew Kennedy Irvine (born 14 June 1942) is a famous Irish folk musician and singer-songwriter. He helped start many well-known bands like Sweeney's Men, Planxty, Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher's Island. He also played in duos with other musicians such as Dónal Lunny and Paul Brady.

Andy Irvine plays many instruments, including the mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, harmonica, and hurdy-gurdy. He has been a big influence in folk music for over 60 years. He collects and performs songs and tunes from Irish, English, Scottish, Eastern European, Australian, and American folk traditions.

As a child, Andy was an actor, which helped him learn how to perform. He started playing classical guitar but switched to folk music after discovering the American folk singer Woody Guthrie. Andy was one of the first musicians to use the Greek bouzouki in Irish music, changing its tuning to fit the style. He also helped improve the design of his instruments.

Even though he often performs alone, Andy has also worked with many other musicians. These collaborations have greatly influenced modern folk music. He still tours a lot in Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, North and South America, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2018, he received a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to folk music.

Andy's Early Life and Acting Career

Andy Irvine was born in St John's Wood, London, on June 14, 1942. His mother, Felicia Madge Lessels, was from Wallasey, England, and his father, Archibald Kennedy Irvine, was from Glasgow, Scotland. His mother was a musical comedy actress. Andy started boarding school at age three and a half. He loved playing team sports like football, rugby, and cricket.

As a child, Andy had many chances to act on stage, TV, and in movies. When he was eight, he played Jimmy in the film A Tale of Five Cities. At 13, he starred as Nokie in the TV series Round at the Redways and joined a school for child actors. He received great reviews for his acting in TV dramas like The Magpies. He also appeared in films like A Voice in Vision and Room at the Top.

In his late teens, Andy joined the BBC's Repertory company, where he became friends with the poet Louis MacNeice. However, Andy decided to stop acting in his early twenties after moving to Dublin.

Musical Inspirations

Discovering Folk Music

Andy loved music from a very young age. His mother had old records of musical comedies that he would play. At 13, he studied classical guitar for two years. But he changed to folk music after hearing Woody Guthrie during the Skiffle music craze in the 1950s.

Woody Guthrie became a huge influence on Andy's music and his life. Andy learned to play the harmonica and mandolin because Guthrie played them. He also learned Guthrie's guitar picking style and adapted it for the mandolin. Later, he used this style for the mandola and bouzouki.

In the mid-1950s, Andy heard Woody Guthrie's songs through Lonnie Donegan's records. He was so inspired that he bought Guthrie's original records, like Dust Bowl Ballads. He spent hours listening and practicing. He wanted to play every instrument Guthrie played.

Andy also visited the Ballads and Blues Club in London, where American folk musicians who knew Guthrie would perform. He became friends with Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who taught him how to play the harmonica like Guthrie. Andy even wrote letters to Woody Guthrie when he was in the hospital.

In 1991, Andy wrote a song called "Never Tire of the Road" as a tribute to Woody Guthrie. He recorded it on his album Rude Awakening. Andy said he never met Woody, but he felt a strong connection to the values Woody represented.

A Passion for Fairness

Andy Irvine cares deeply about social justice. He is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, a group that works for workers' rights. An example of his commitment is his song "The Spirit of Mother Jones." This song celebrates the life of Mary Harris Jones, also known as 'Mother Jones,' who was a famous social activist. Andy recorded this song on his 2010 album Abocurragh. He has also performed at the Mother Jones Festival in Ireland.

In 2007, Andy was upset when he learned that a big oil company was sponsoring a festival where he was performing. He decided to donate part of his payment to a campaign that was protesting the company's gas project.

Andy's Music Journey

1960s: Dublin and Eastern Europe

Moving to Dublin

In 1962, Andy moved to Dublin. He continued acting for a while in plays and TV shows. But he soon discovered Dublin's growing folk music scene. He decided to leave acting behind and focus on music.

Andy learned about Irish music from radio programs and spent many hours at the National Library of Ireland. He studied old songbooks and found inspiration from folk singers like Ewan MacColl. He met other musicians like Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly, who later formed The Dubliners. Andy even wrote a song called "O'Donoghue's" about these early days in Dublin.

Sweeney's Men

In 1966, Andy teamed up with Johnny Moynihan and 'Galway Joe' Dolan to form the band Sweeney's Men. They blended American folk music with an Irish sound. A special part of their sound was Moynihan's use of the Irish bouzouki, an instrument that was new to Irish music at the time.

The band recorded their first single in 1967. Joe Dolan then left the band and was replaced by Terry Woods. In 1968, the new lineup recorded their album, Sweeney's Men. Andy contributed four songs to the album. He also played Moynihan's bouzouki on one track, which made him want to get his own.

Andy wrote his first song, "West Coast of Clare," in 1968. He finished writing it in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). Andy left Sweeney's Men after a final show in Dublin.

Exploring Eastern Europe

In 1968, Andy and his first wife, Muriel, traveled to Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Andy was interested in the region's folk music, especially the music of Bulgaria. He was amazed by the unique sounds and rhythms. He bought many records to learn more.

This fascination with Bulgarian folk music would influence many of Andy's later projects. He used these rhythms in his playing, which also influenced the sound of modern Irish music, including the famous Riverdance.

While in Thessaloniki, Greece, Andy bought his own bouzouki. He also met Rens van der Zalm, a talented violinist from the Netherlands, who would later join Andy in several music projects. When Andy returned to Dublin in 1969, Sweeney's Men was breaking up.

1970s: Planxty and Other Collaborations

Duo with Dónal Lunny

After Sweeney's Men, Andy formed a duo with Dónal Lunny. They played their first gig together at a conference. Andy was impressed by how quickly Dónal understood his music. This partnership also helped make the bouzouki more popular in Irish music. Johnny Moynihan had introduced the instrument to Andy, and Andy then passed it on to Dónal.

They started their own club night called 'The Mug's Gig,' where they performed and invited other musicians. The club was always full, and people were excited by their new sound. Andy had also created his own version of the song "The Blacksmith," adding a Bulgarian-style ending.

Christy Moore and Planxty

Andy and Dónal then joined Christy Moore and uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn to record Moore's second album, Prosperous, in 1971. The album was recorded in a cellar in Prosperous, County Kildare. Christy Moore described it as a "magical time" where the music was "fresh and it sparkled."

This collaboration led the four musicians to form the band Planxty in January 1972. They quickly became very popular, playing concerts in Ireland and England. Planxty was known for its unique sound, combining the bouzouki and mandolin with O'Flynn's pipes. Andy and Christy Moore were the main singers.

Planxty signed a six-record deal and toured all over Europe. Andy wrote many of the band's songs. Their first album, Planxty, released in 1973, included Andy's songs "Arthur McBride" and "West Coast of Clare." Their second album, The Well Below The Valley, also featured Andy's songs.

After their second album, Dónal Lunny left the band and was replaced by Johnny Moynihan. For their third album, Cold Blow and the Rainy Night (1974), Dónal Lunny returned to help arrange the music. Andy contributed four pieces to this album. After this, Christy Moore left, and Paul Brady joined the band. This new lineup toured but did not record any albums before breaking up in 1975.

Duos with Paul Brady and Mick Hanly

Andy continued to tour with Paul Brady, including their first trip to the USA in 1977. In August 1976, they recorded their album Andy Irvine/Paul Brady, produced by Dónal Lunny. This album included Andy's song "Autumn Gold," which he wrote in Slovenia. In 2017 and 2018, they celebrated the album's 40th anniversary with a tour.

Andy also toured a lot in Europe with Mick Hanly. They performed at folk festivals in Germany. In 1980, Mick Hanly released his album As I Went Over Blackwater, which featured Andy on several tracks.

Planxty's Return

In 1978, the original Planxty lineup (Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Liam O'Flynn) decided to reunite. They added flutist Matt Molloy. They went on a big European tour in 1979. After the tour, they recorded their fourth album, After The Break, which included three pieces by Andy. Matt Molloy later left to join The Chieftains.

1980s: Solo Work and New Bands

First Solo Album

In 1979, Andy recorded his first solo album, Rainy Sundays... Windy Dreams, released in 1980. Dónal Lunny produced it. The album featured songs and tunes inspired by both Irish traditional music and Balkan music. It included Andy's song "Rainy Sundays," about a romance in Slovenia.

Parallel Lines with Dick Gaughan

In 1981, Andy recorded Parallel Lines with Scottish folk singer Dick Gaughan. The album was released in Germany in 1982. It featured Andy on bouzouki, mandola, mandolin, harmonica, and hurdy-gurdy.

Planxty's Later Years

The Planxty sextet continued to tour, but the members also worked on other projects. Christy Moore and Dónal Lunny formed a new band called Moving Hearts. In late 1982, Planxty recorded their album Words & Music, which included Andy's songs "Thousands Are Sailing" and "Aragon Mill." The band eventually stopped performing together in 1983.

Mosaic and Patrick Street

After Planxty, Andy continued his solo career and traveled to Hungary. He met local musicians and formed a new multicultural folk group called Mosaic in 1984. This band included Dónal Lunny and singer Márta Sebestyén. Mosaic played exciting, innovative music but only lasted one summer.

In 1985, Andy joined fiddler Kevin Burke and guitarist Mícheál Ó Domhnaill to form a trio. They later added Jackie Daly and became the band Patrick Street. They were initially called "The Legends of Irish Music." Patrick Street has released many albums, including their first, Patrick Street, in 1986. Andy sang four songs on this album.

Andy's unique style of playing the bouzouki was described in a guide called The Irish Bouzouki. He plays in a melodic way, letting the strings ring out, and uses complex counter-melodies. He also experiments with new sounds and chords.

1990s: More Albums and Tours

Solo Albums and East Wind

In 1990 and 1991, Andy recorded his second solo album, Rude Awakening, produced by Bill Whelan. This album included "Never Tire of the Road," his tribute to Woody Guthrie, and songs about other heroes like Raoul Wallenberg.

Andy also recorded East Wind, an album of Bulgarian and Macedonian tunes played in an Irish style. This project, also produced by Bill Whelan, influenced the creation of Riverdance. Andy toured with Nikola Parov and Rens van der Zalm as the 'East Wind Trio.'

Patrick Street Albums

Patrick Street continued to release albums throughout the 1990s. Andy contributed many songs to these albums, including:

• All in Good Time (1993)
• Cornerboys (1996)
• Made in Cork (1997)
• Live from Patrick Street (1999)

Rain on the Roof

In 1996, Andy released his third solo album, Rain on the Roof. This album was released on his own record label. It featured a mix of his own songs, traditional songs, and Bulgarian tunes.

2000s: Mozaik and Planxty Reunion

Way Out Yonder

In 2000, Andy released his fourth solo album, Way Out Yonder. He worked with many guest musicians on this album.

Mozaik and Patrick Street

In 2002, Andy formed a new multicultural group called Mozaik with Dónal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Nikola Parov, and Rens van der Zalm. They recorded their album Live from the Powerhouse in Australia in 2004. Patrick Street also released their album Street Life in 2002.

Planxty's "Third Coming"

In late 2002, a TV documentary about Planxty inspired the original band members to reunite. They held rehearsals and played a surprise concert in October 2003. The original Planxty quartet (Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Liam O'Flynn) then played a series of successful concerts in 2004 and early 2005. These concerts were recorded and released on the album Live 2004. Sadly, Liam O'Flynn passed away in 2018.

Mozaik released their first studio album, Changing Trains, in 2007. Patrick Street also released their ninth album, On the Fly, in 2007.

2010s: Recent Projects

Abocurragh

In 2010, Andy released his fifth solo album, Abocurragh. Dónal Lunny produced it, and many other musicians played on the album.

LAPD

In 2012, Andy formed a new quartet called 'LAPD' with Liam O'Flynn, Paddy Glackin, and Dónal Lunny. The name came from the first letter of each member's name. They played songs from Planxty and other parts of their careers. LAPD performed occasionally but never recorded an album. Their last show was in 2013.

70th Birthday Concert

In June 2012, Andy's 70th birthday was celebrated with two concerts in Dublin. Many musicians joined him on stage, including Paul Brady and members of his past bands. These concerts were recorded and released as the album 70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St 2012.

Playing Woody Guthrie Again

In 2012, Andy was invited to perform at a concert celebrating Woody Guthrie's 100th birthday. He practiced playing his old guitar in Guthrie's style.

Parachilna with Rens van der Zalm

In 2013, Andy released his first duo album with Rens van der Zalm, called Parachilna. It featured Irish and Australian songs recorded live in Australia while they were camping.

Usher's Island

In 2015, Andy started his newest band, Usher's Island. The band includes Dónal Lunny, Paddy Glackin, Michael McGoldrick, and John Doyle.

Selected Music Albums

Film and TV Appearances

• Planxty Live 2004 (2004), DVD
• Come West Along The Road/Irish Traditional Music Treasures From RTÉ Archives 1960s – 1980s (2005), DVD
• The Transatlantic Sessions Series 6 (2014), DVD
• Andy Irvine 70th Birthday Concert at Vicar St 2012 (2014), DVD

Awards

• 2018: Won the first Lifetime Achievement Award at RTÉ Radio 1's Folk Music Awards.