Biography
The quintet Catoan, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, performed together for more than a year before formally adopting the group name. Earlier appearances had listed them under the billing “Paddy McKeown and band,” reflecting the multi-talented frontman’s established identity. McKeown had worked as a solo recording and performing artist since 2003 and delayed full commitment to a collective until he felt confident the musicians would remain together. His classically inflected, bel canto tenor continues to serve as the ensemble’s central focus, yet the overall sound forms a cohesive entity drawing on rock, metal, folk, jazz, classical, and minimalism. Although often likened to Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, Catoan augments the conventional rock configuration with a dedicated violinist and an occasional tenor saxophonist; their extended compositions move across stylistic boundaries without settling on any single one. This resistance to easy classification has not hindered growing commercial success that originated in their Belfast stronghold.
The five members first assembled in 2006: Paddy McKeown on lead vocals and guitar, Ruadhrí Mannion on violin and backing vocals, John Ferris on lead guitar, Cavan Fyans on bass and backing vocals, and Rob Baker on drums, while tenor saxophonist Iain McDougall began appearing regularly at the band’s concerts. By then McKeown had already issued two independent EPs under his own name: the 2003 DCA EP, titled after England’s Dartington College of Arts, where the tracks were captured during his studies, and the 2004 Passing By EP, prompted by a New York visit connected to those same studies. After returning to Belfast later that year, he formed several short-lived groups until settling on the lineup that would adopt the name Catoan in March 2007. Following support slots for Starsailor and Leya, the band signed with the Northern Irish imprint Curious Incident Records and commenced work on its first release. The mini-album And Will I appeared in the Republic of Ireland in August 2007, with a United Kingdom edition issued the following October.
The five members first assembled in 2006: Paddy McKeown on lead vocals and guitar, Ruadhrí Mannion on violin and backing vocals, John Ferris on lead guitar, Cavan Fyans on bass and backing vocals, and Rob Baker on drums, while tenor saxophonist Iain McDougall began appearing regularly at the band’s concerts. By then McKeown had already issued two independent EPs under his own name: the 2003 DCA EP, titled after England’s Dartington College of Arts, where the tracks were captured during his studies, and the 2004 Passing By EP, prompted by a New York visit connected to those same studies. After returning to Belfast later that year, he formed several short-lived groups until settling on the lineup that would adopt the name Catoan in March 2007. Following support slots for Starsailor and Leya, the band signed with the Northern Irish imprint Curious Incident Records and commenced work on its first release. The mini-album And Will I appeared in the Republic of Ireland in August 2007, with a United Kingdom edition issued the following October.
Albums