Brian Kelly

London continues to nurture fine exponents of the banjo: Brian Kelly is one of the latest in a long line that includes Mick O'Connor, John Carty and Bernie Conneely. Like many a young London-Irish musician, Brian took lessons from the influential Brendan Mulkere and went on to win All-Ireland titles on both the banjo and mandolin.
Brian has been a familiar face on London's Irish circuit for some time now, thanks in part to a four-year residency with guitarist Paddy Gallagher at The Stag's Head in Camden, and two years in the Swan in Stockwell with Gino Lupari (4 Men & a Dog), Pat Kilbride (Kips Bay, Battlefield Band) & Athena Tergis (Sharon Shannon Band).
His debut album was launched at the Return to Camden Town festival 2001. Accompanied by Paddy Gallagher and with additional assistance from Brian's sister Martina on fiddle and John Blake on flute and piano, Brian's banjo ripples through a series of eleven tracks with disarming ease. There's none of the excessive elaboration to which some banjo-mongers are prone, for this man knows an ornament when he sees one and, more importantly, when and where to play it.
The repertoire is wide-ranging, encompassing both session favourites (Moving Cloud, Tom Billy's, Eddie Kelly's) alongside less familiar tunes such as Lump of Pudding and Crib of Perches. There's also room for one of his own compositions, the auspicious and eponymous Brian Kelly's No.1, but what's ultimately inspirational about this album is the joyous tone of Brian's banjo and the sheer clarity of his playing, both of which are more than sufficient to quell the doubts of anyone unimpressed by previous banjo albums.
In December 2003 after returning from a year living/playing in New Zealand & Australia Brian joined the Popes and toured with Shane MacGowan extensively in UK/Ireland/Europe until May 2005 when Shane rejoined the Pogues permanently. The Popes released a live album 'Release the Beast' in 2004. Brian’s second album, 'The Plain of Jars', was released in October 2006 at the Return to Camden Town Festival (available through www.claddaghrecords.com)
He is currently playing with his new band The Long Notes with Jamie Smith on fiddle and Colette O’Leary on Piano Accordion (formerly of the Bumblebees) & featuring Ewan Robertson on guitar & vocals (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2008)- their debut album is out now through Footstompin, Claddagh & Keltia distribution.