Paul Brady in Castlebar

Paul Brady is an Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, born in Strabane in 1947, whose music draws on traditional folk, rock and contemporary songwriting. Before pursuing a solo career, he performed with The Johnstons and Planxty, then recorded with Andy Irvine. His best-known work includes his interpretation of “Arthur McBride” and the original songs “Crazy Dreams,” “The Island” and “Nothing but the Same Old Story.” In 1976, he and Andy Irvine performed as a duo and released the album Andy Irvine/Paul Brady. Brady subsequently toured with his own band and also gave solo concerts on guitar and piano. A month-long residency at Dublin’s Vicar Street in 2001 featured guests including Bonnie Raitt, Mark Knopfler and Sinéad O’Connor, and recordings from those concerts were later released as The Vicar St. Sessions Vol. 1.