ANDY IRVINE

A. Irvine is a legend in the world of Irish music, having graced the stage for over 60 years. Hailed as “a tradition in his own right”, he has built an astonishing career as a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (bouzouki, mandola, guitar, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy), broadening the horizons of traditional music.  With his distinctive voice, combined with his unrivalled talent, he has become one of the leading figures in the revival of Irish folk music.

In his early days, Andy was deeply influenced by the music of Woody Guthrie, a leading figure of the 1950/1960s folk movement, whose songs have inspired him throughout his career. Whilst still a teenager, he met Woody and they subsequently became friends.
For over thirty years, Andy Irvine had been nurturing the idea of dedicating an album to this giant of folk music. His album 'Devoted', his eighth solo album, thus pays tribute to the artist who was the primary source of inspiration for his musical life. Of the twelve tracks, eleven are compositions by Woody, with one – ‘Never Tire of the Road’ – written and composed by Andy. But this time, the album reimagines Guthrie’s work through the prism of traditional Irish music.
More than just a tribute, 'Devoted' reveals the timelessness of Woody Guthrie’s songs through themes of emigration, resilience and community. The album features original compositions, all accompanied by notes from Andy and Will Kaufman, a Guthrie specialist. Listeners will recognise tracks such as ‘Rambling Round Your City’ and ‘Pastures of Plenty’, a song covered by so many others, notably Karan Casey and Solas. Another notable track is ‘Tom Joad’, a musical adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel 'The Grapes of Wrath'. The themes dear to W. Guthrie are present here: mass migration, economic and labour inequalities, and the quest for dignity are all interwoven. And some 70 years later, these songs continue to resonate across generations and beyond borders.

The themes dear to W. Guthrie are present here: mass migration, economic and labour inequalities, and the quest for dignity are all interwoven. And some 70 years later, these songs continue to resonate across generations and beyond borders.
Among the renowned musicians accompanying A. Irvine are Dónal Lunny, Bruce Molsky, Michael McGoldrick, John Doyle, Rens van der Zalm and Nikola Parov. Quite a line-up, to say the least.
The result is an album that pays tribute to Guthrie’s voice, whilst adding a new (Irish) dimension to his work.

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