Kevin Burke excels at the intricate, ornamented Sligo approach to Irish fiddle playing. Formerly associated with the Bothy Band, Patrick Street, and a duo alongside guitarist Michael O'Domhnaill, he has also worked as a solo performer and fronted his own ensemble, Open House.
Born in London, England, Burke acquired his passion for Irish music through his parents, who had left Sligo County, Ireland. His professional path opened soon after he relocated to Ireland in 1974 and began collaborating with singer-songwriter Christy Moore, who had recently departed the pioneering trad-rock group Planxty. Stepping in for Tommy Peoples with the Bothy Band in 1976, Burke stayed until 1979 and appeared on three of their releases: Old Hag You Have Killed Me, After Hours (Live in Paris), and Out of the Wind, Into the Sun.
Once the Bothy Band disbanded, Burke moved to Portland, Oregon. Beyond contributing to Arlo Guthrie’s Washington County, he reunited with guitarist Michael O'Domhnaill for multiple tours and the duo albums Promenade and Portland. An early-1980s package billed as Legends of Irish Music united Burke with Andy Irvine on vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, and harmonica, along with accordionist Jackie Daly; the three later sustained their partnership under the name Patrick Street.
Burke’s 1992 solo project Open House brought together Mark Graham on harmonica, clarinet, and vocals, Paul Kotopish on guitar, mandolin, cittern, and bass, and Sandy Silva on percussion, the same players who formed his ongoing band.
In both 1992 and 1997 he toured and recorded with Scottish fiddler Johnny Cunningham and Breton fiddler Christian Lemaitre under the banner Celtic Fiddle Festival. Burke has additionally produced three instructional releases for Homespun Tapes and Videos—Music Instruction—Fiddle, Twenty Irish Fiddle Tunes, and Learn to Play Irish Fiddle. His first solo album in fifteen years, In Concert, appeared in 1999, followed in early 2001 by Sweeney's Dream.
