Local musician and friend Kaia had booked this date before we learned from Willy Porter that Gerry was in the States at that time and would like to play here.  She very graciously agreed to split the evening with him.  So you get to double your pleasure.

KAIA FOWLER’s music is a cross-blend of folk, blues, rock and Americana. Through supple, strong vocals and guitar playing that ranges from delicate fingerstyle to percussive strumming, Kaia shares songs that explore life’s longings, struggles and celebrations. Rooted in nature, Kaia’s songs resonate with strength and vulnerability as she explores wide reaches of emotional space.

“Sharing songs helps me connect with others,” says Kaia. “When I sing about my loves and losses, concerns and inspirations, fears and hopes, I help listeners recall their own experiences and feelings. There, in that moment, because of the magic of music and words, we understand one another better. We sense that we’re all in this together. I love that aspect of what I do most of all.”

Born in Ennis, County Clare, along Ireland’s music-rich west coast, GERRY O’BEIRNE is a renowned singer, songwriter and guitarist (6 and 12 string guitar, tiple, and ukulele, slide guitar among others).  He grew up in Ireland and in Ghana in West Africa, and has since lived in England, California, and Mexico. He lives now near Dingle in Co Kerry. His own compositions blend the passion found in traditional music with the freshness of contemporary song.

Many of his songs have been embraced by the contemporary folk community.  Maura O’Connell recorded Half Moon Bay, Western Highway, Shades of Gloria, and The Isle of Malachy.  Mary Black recorded The Holy Ground as a title track.  Cathie Ryan recorded Shades of Gloria and The Lights of San Francisco. Muireann Nic Amhloaibh has recorded Western Highway and The Isle Of Malachy on Daybreak: Fainne An Lae, and his music for Irish language lyrics on her latest album The Small Hours.

Gerry has toured the globe as a solo artist and with the Sharon Shannon Band, Patrick Street, Midnight Well, Andy M. Stewart, Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, and the Waterboys.  He has performed at the White House, opened for the Grateful Dead, and played electric guitar with Marianne Faithfull.  He composed and recorded the score to River of Dreams, an artistic response to the River Shannon commissioned by the Irish Department of Arts and Heritage, and he has written music for film and theater.

Gerry has appeared on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.  His performance of Western Highway was chosen as an audio highlight on A Prairie Home Companion’s website. (http://www.prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/20011110/)

As a producer, he has a large number of albums to his credit, including Promenade by Kevin Burke and Michael O’Dhomhnaill (winner of the Grand Prix Du Disque at Montreux), Irish Times by Patrick Street, Man in the Moon and Donegal Rain by Andy M. Stewart, First Foooting by Anam, The Connaughtman’s Rambles by Martin O’Conner, Up Close by Kevin Burke, Lifting the Veil and Sacred Space by Fiona Joyce, To Anyone At All by Clandestine, Fine Small Storm by Jen Hamel, The Willow by E. J. Jones, Silver Hook Tango by Australian singer-songwriter Kavisha Mazella, When Two Lovers Meet and I won’t go home ‘til morning by Sarah McQuaid and Lumina by Irish piper, low whistle player, and composer Eoin Duignan, which was hailed “a stunning achievement” by Hot Press, Ireland’s foremost music magazine.

Please call 920-563-9391 to reserve.