Frankie Gavin & De Dannan

Frankie Gavin is one of the genuine legends of Irish music. From his first TV appearance playing the tin-whistle when he was six, to seven solo albums, his adventures in the realms of Jazz, Gospel, and Klezmer, through to appearances and recordings with such luminaries as Earl Scruggs, Stephane Grapelli, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, and the ‘Rolling Stones’, ‘the prince of Irish fiddlers’ is one of the outstanding performers of the past thirty years. Frankie is also the original founding member and band leader of internationally acclaimed traditional super group ‘De Dannan’.
For many years ‘De Dannan’ were the forerunners in the Irish traditional music world but after 33 years, 14 albums and a number of changes in the line up, the group disbanded in 2003. The band at that point had been responsible for bringing singers Dolores Keane, Mary Black, Maura O Connell and Tommy Fleming, amongst many others, to international prominence. In August 2009, Frankie Gavin unleashed a new ‘De Dannan’ line up which in his own words "reflects a ‘De Dannan’ of the 21st century”. The current ‘De Dannan’ ensemble (now known as ‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’) is led by Frankie Gavin on fiddle, flutes & whistles with Damien Mullane on accordian, Eric Cunningham on percussion, flutes & whistles, Mike Galvin on bouzouki & guitars and Michelle Lally on vocals.
‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ has since played support to the ‘Rolling Stones’ at Slane Castle, performed with the ‘U.A.E. Philharmonic Orchestra’ in Dubai, performed with the ‘Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra’ during a tour of the USA and performed at The White House and at the US Capitol Building on three separate occasions for US President’s Clinton, Bush & Obama. The band toured China both in its own capacity and also with the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra while playing such venues as Shanghai Grand Theatre and Beijing Opera House. The bands performances were also aired on China Central TV to over 500 million viewers.. A new album featuring the most recent ‘De Dannan’ line up, entitled ‘Jigs, Reels & Rock ‘n’ Roll’, which includes a guest appearance by Ronnie Wood of the ‘Rolling Stones’ was released at the end of 2010. Frankie Gavin entered the ‘Guinness World Records’ on the same day as the ‘Fastest Fiddle Player in the World’. In addition to select festival dates worldwide, ‘Frankie Gavin & De Dannan’ are currently in the middle of 32 county ‘Up Close & Personal’ tour of Ireland.
Part of Frankie Gavin's enduring appeal lies in his astounding technical ability and unceasing quest for innovation – musical pieces more commonly associated with the like of the ‘Beatles’ and George Frideric Handel are now common place in Frankie’s repertoire as an Irish musician. Most pertinent of all is the knack he has for imparting to his audience his own enthusiasm, the sheer joy, the magic of great music-making.
In establishing the new ‘De Dannan’ in 2009, Frankie has assembled a group of fiercely talented performers who during the first performance as a band in the USA received a number of standing ovations at Sander’s Theater at Harvard University, Boston-and the first was before the intermission! Rob Fabroni, Producer of the ‘Last Waltz’, who saw the band perform in the USA during their first tour in March 2009 summed up the thoughts of many in the hall: “this is the best incarnation of ‘De Dannan’ I have ever witnessed and I believe I have seen them all…sensational”.
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“Frankie Gavin and De Dannan are the jewel in the crown, and as the musicians hit top gear some of the fast reels in particular are mesmerizing” – Carl Dixon, The Irish Examiner, August 2009

"Rightly heralded as the greatest Irish fiddler player, Frankie Gavin has nothing left to prove...Gavin is a true fiddle-playing genius, one who continues to inspire and dumbfound in equal measure" - The Scotsman

www.DeDannan.com