Press

Thumbnail image for The Tune’s The Thing

The Tune’s The Thing

The music. Button box wizard Paddy O’Brien gets it. Really gets it. “What I like in a musician now,” states Paddy, “is the one who plays the nicest tune, even more than the technical musicianship.” In that one sentence the legendary Offaly-born button box player encapsulates a life spent in the center and soul of Irish music. And that center is the music itself. Not the current fashion. Not the current “hot” group. Not “the buzz.” The music. Period. Full stop.

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Thumbnail image for Paddy O’Brien – Tunecatcher

Paddy O’Brien – Tunecatcher

Paddy O’Brien is one of the great keepers of the flame in Irish traditional music. Despite –or paradoxically because of – living outside Ireland for many years, he has retained a profound attachment to the music and cultivated a deep and fertile furrow around St Paul, Minnesota, with his playing, mentoring and teaching. He is held in high regard by his fellow-musicians and is one of the great Irish tune collectors with many rare and unusual tunes lodged in his head.

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Thumbnail image for Music on the Boil: A Singing & Dancing Kettle from Chulrua

Music on the Boil: A Singing & Dancing Kettle from Chulrua

The glowing reviews of Chulrua’s new album, The Singing Kettle, are steaming in. It’s a strong brew, rich and sweet, like a good pot of Irish tea. Chulrua is one of the musical combinations graced with the presence of box player Paddy O’Brien… There’s something beautifully pristine about the music on this second Chulrua recording–it leaps into life every time.

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Thumbnail image for Irish Music Magazine Reviews Chulrua’s “The Singing Kettle”

Irish Music Magazine Reviews Chulrua’s “The Singing Kettle”

“In its recalling of past masters, in its thoughtful and well-crafted performances, this recording is at once a wakeup call and a reminder of the things that matter in Irish traditional music.”

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Thumbnail image for Article on Paddy O’Brien by Yuri Andreychuk

Article on Paddy O’Brien by Yuri Andreychuk

Paddy O’Brien from Co. Offaly is not just one of the most famous Irish accordionists in the world but also a man who has developed so many abilities that one can hardly put into practice in a lifetime. He is also a recognized musician, collector, composer and even a poet. Above all, Paddy is a little bit of a philosopher and a very outstanding figure.

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