BIOGRAPHY A legend in her own right, Karan Casey has long been one of the most innovative provocative and imitated voices in Irish traditional and folk music. Her career has spanned twenty years from the early days as a jazz performer in Georges bistro in Dublin to her heady days in New York with the band Solas to her now blossoming solo career she has sold over half a million albums. Karan released her first album with the group Solas, which quickly became the most celebrated Irish band in the U.S., and her four years with the group were pivotal. Following their groundbreaking early releases Casey struck out on her own. Since
embarking on her solo career Karan has released 5 solo albums as well
as
an album for children and numerous contributions to other artists' projects.
She has toured constantly throughout North America, Europe and Japan, performing
with her own band as well as with such diverse musicians as Tim O’Brien,
Karen Matheson (Capercaille) the Michael McGoldrick Band and Lunasa. Recent years have seen Karan appearing with Folk legends James Taylor, Liam Clancy, Peggy Seeger and Mick Moloney as well as performances with Solas and Lunasa, and collaborations with pianist/composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and with Breton guitarist Gilles le Bigot’s ‘Voix de la Terre’ project. New ventures during 2008 included The Vallely Brother’s Big Band and Niall Vallely’s “Turas na dTaoiseach/Flight of the Earl’s” event, which was premiered in Belfast’s Grand Opera House and later performed in Louvain, Belgium. She was also involved in Tommy Hayes’s “Apples in Winter” multimedia project and filmed a TV special on songs associated with the Irish Labour Movement. In 2009 Karan released her fifth solo album entitled “Ships in the Forest” on the Crow Valley Music label. Produced once again by Donald Shaw, the new album focuses largely on the traditional repertoire. The album was recorded at Karan’s home in County Cork and features the members of her current touring band, Caoimhín Vallely (piano), Kate Ellis (cello) and Robbie Overson (guitar) along with some special guests, including Kris Drever and Niall and Cillian Vallely. "Exile's Return" a duet album with former Solas band-mate John Doyle was released to widespread critical acclaim in early 2010. Karan has continued to tour with her own band and as a duo with John Doyle, and has started to record a new album with Crooked Still singer Aoife O'Donovan.
click here for Irish Times feature article Download PDF of German Biog here
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PRESS QUOTES "The
most soulful singer to emerge in Irish traditional music in the past
decade." “Karan
Casey's latest solo venture is a thing of rare beauty.” “….the
Irish equivalent of Emmylou Harris.” ”Casey’s
voice is among the loveliest in folk music and she’s a wonderful
interpreter of both contemporary and traditional material.” “Setting
her clear voice in arrangements that mix traditional and modern instruments,
she maintains the taut, quivering ornamentation of old ballad style,
singing
tales of love, war and murder with a gentle gravity.” “Casey
has the unique ability to make every song sound true and impassioned.” " Vocalist
of the rarest quality... " |
DISCOGRAPHY
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