Culture
John Doyle Interview
< < Back to john-doyle-interviewVocalist Karan Casey and guitar virtuoso John Doyle will perform on NPR's Mountain Stage, Sunday, Oct. 9 in Athens, Ohio.
The pair were founding members of the Irish traditional supergroup Solas, a band known for rousing, furious tunes and striking renditions of traditional songs. In Exile's Return, the two former bandmates reunite to create a stripped-down album that showcases the power of those songs. Since Solas, both have carved out a unique and acclaimed place in contemporary Irish and folk music.
Karan Casey has recorded five solo albums, has won Best Irish Female Vocalist twice, Best Irish Folk album and a Grammy for her collaboration with Paul Winter. She has been nominated for BBC Folk Awards and has performed with Peggy Seeger, Liam Clancy, James Taylor and Tim O'Brien. On her 2008 album Ships in the Forest, Casey's evocative, haunting, and often imitated voice was accompanied by piano and cello. USA Today has called her work "shiver-inducingly excellent”.
John Doyle's rhythmic guitar chops and effortless harmonies make him much in-demand as a musical partner. He currently tours with Joan Baez as her musical director, and with virtuoso fiddler Liz Carroll. Doyle and Carroll played for President Obama in March 2009, and their album Double Play received a 2010 Grammy nomination.
Doyle also received a nomination for the 2009 Tommy Makem Award by the Irish Music Association. He's played with Kate Rusby, Alison Brown, Mick Moloney and Linda Thompson, among others, and worked as a producer for Billy McComiskey. Irish Edition calls him a "dream guitarist."
Sunday's show time is 7 p.m. For details, visit www.ohio.edu/performingarts