Celtic Series '26: Kevin Burke
Thursday Dec 10 @6pm
One of the most influential Irish fiddlers of the past half-century will take the LCCC stage on Thursday, December 10, when Kevin Burke performs in the Celtic Series.
The December performance begins at the earlier wintertime hour of 6:00 PM.
Burke has been at the forefront of Irish traditional music since the 1970s. Born in London to Irish parents, he grew up surrounded by Irish music and developed his playing in the vibrant traditional music scene of his youth.
His style is closely associated with the fiddle tradition of County Sligo, known for its flowing ornamentation, rhythmic drive and expressive melodic phrasing.
Burke reached international audiences as a member of the legendary Bothy Band, one of the most influential ensembles in the history of modern Irish traditional music. He later became a founding member of Patrick Street and performed extensively with Open House and the Celtic Fiddle Festival.
Through all of those collaborations, Burke developed a sound that is immediately recognizable. His playing can be fiery and rhythmic, but it can also become quiet and conversational, allowing the emotional character of a melody to take center stage.
Burke has received major honors for his lifetime contribution to traditional music, including a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, Ireland’s Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year honor and induction into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
Burke also has a special connection to LCCC. He was scheduled to appear in the Cultural Center’s Celtic Series in spring 2020 before live performances were interrupted by the pandemic. Instead, he participated in the Center’s online Creative Quarantine programming from his Portland home.