About this Event
Kevin McKrell
Somewhere tonight, across the country or across the sea, a singer, sitting on
a stool on a pub’s corner stage, is belting out a Kevin McKrell song, and the
crowd is singing along. McKrell pioneered Celtic music beginning in 1979
with Donnybrook Fair. The original trio’s 1982 album Tunnel Tigers
remains a landmark of the form, with its blend of Clancy Brothers swagger
and upstate NY attitude. McKrell honed his powerful performance style
further in the 80s with The Fabulous Newports, a rambunctious harmony
group known as much for its antics, cut-up comedy and long list of eventual
members as for its sweet singing.
In 1998, McKrell—who has three solo albums to his credit—formed a
powerhouse band under his own name, merging the Irish sensibility of
Donnybrook with a steely, world class bluegrass edge. The McKrells toured
harder than Donnybrook, bringing its music, with McKrell’s lusty vocals
supported by hot string band picking, to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and
festivals and concert venues around the country.
Offstage, McKrell, is a respected painter, with his work hanging in
many of the halls he’s haunted, here and in Ireland, Scotland and Italy.He
is best known, though, for his indelible songs—classics like “Home In
Donegal,” “I Miss the Rain” and the eternal “All of The Hard Days Are
Gone”—which, in addition to the raft of pub singers mentioned afore, have
been sung and recorded by artists like The Kingston Trio, Bob Shane, Hair
of the Dog, Wood’s Tea Company ,Get Up Jack, from Ireland The Furey
Brothers, Seamus Kennedy ,The Druids, The Dublin City Ramblers from
Scotland North Sea Gas, from Australia Pat McKernan.
‘McKrell is a masterful entertainer. He has played festival stages, clubs and
concert halls around the globe, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center,
Falconridge Folk Fest, The Milwaukee Irish Festival to name but a few. His
originals have become folk staples throughout the English speaking world,
and his wicked sense of humor is nearly as legendary as his songs.’
Caffe Lena
Kevin McKrell entertained in wry blarney, sang Ould Sod sentiment in
“Dublin Town” and “Home in Donegal” and, most impressively, crooned his
original songs of John Prine-like insight and effortless musicality.
Event venue & nearby stays
The Eleven, 262 Lark Street, Albany, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.