like everyone, much music has inspired me, but to start: Duke Ellington, Elis Regina, Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer, Cappercaillie, Flook, Lenine, Tribalistas, Andy Irvine, Paul Brady, Veljo Tormis, Milton Nascimento, Ranarim, Ian Carr, Lau, Ed Boyd, Simon Thoumire, Richard Thompson, Dick Gaughan, Dougie McLean, Paulinho de Viola, Clara Nunes, Doc Watson, Roy Forbes, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, David Francey, Arty McGlynn, John Doyle, The Band, The Beatles, The Talking Heads, The Clash, Salif Keita.
Andy is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and music scholar who has had many diverse musical experiences, from touring Mexico playing Mariachi music, to performing on main stages at major folk festivals, to singing as a soloist in European cathedrals. He is the founder of the popular Canadian celtic funk band Mad Pudding, plays guitar and sings with the innovative fiddler Jaime RT (their latest duo CD "Spark" nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award), and provided the driving rhythm guitar behind The McDades (whose latest CD "Bloom", on which he played, has won two Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno Award for Best Folk/Traditional Group) from 2005-2007. Andy was a member of the Juno-nominated vocal collective Musica Intima from 1994-2005, is former director of the Universal Gospel Choir (1993-1999), and has directed the Youth & Concert choirs at the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach. Andy has taught workshops on Celtic guitar for the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, the Sunshine Coast Summer School of Celtic Music, and the Saltspring Fiddle Camp. He has been on the faculty of Vancouver Community College and currently teaches an acoustic roots ensemble at the University of Toronto. He is one of Canada’s most in demand accompanists for traditional music and plays regularly with well known fiddlers such as Pierre Schryer and Ann Lederman.
Andy has an MA in Ethnomusicology from the University of British Columbia, and is currently pursuing his PhD at the University of Toronto.
As a musician Andy feels that as much as we talk about and analyze music, there is a spirit beyond all technique and style that we will never understand, thank goodness. Like musicians everywhere, he tries to plug into that mysterious thing whenever he picks up a guitar to play or opens his mouth to sing.
Andy plays tenor banjo, and is interested in further exploring rhythmic string instruments such as the cavaquinho and vihuela some day when he gets the time. He is currently studying Brazilian percussion with Alan Hetherington as part of the Toronto Escola de Samba, and has studied tabla with Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan, a hereditary tabla master from Lucknow, India.
Andy says "I am so lucky to be able to play music like this for a living, and to perform, teach and think about music and it’s role in peoples lives. Many great people in my life and it takes the edge off this insane world to be able to connect with people this way, whether they are professional or amateur musicians. I love singing, I love rhythm guitar, aiming all the time to groove a little harder, be in the moment and connect with the people I play with. That really about sums it up!!!!"
Hi Andy! How's T.O. been for you? After living here all my life (except for a year in Italy), I am leaving...for a great reason, however! Expect I may run into you at some point over the summer. Hope you are doing great. Michelle
Just listening to 'Jack's' - never heard the recording - fantastic- somewhat more mellow than the real object i must say. Trying to get Jack excited about it right now but he is too busy throwing small change around the room and shouting 'treasure'.
Hello Andy Great to hear from you. Thanks for your add. I am jealous of you Summer. Roberts Creek AND Goderich... it's not fair. You'll be swum out by the end of it! Cheers Fin
I should be back in August and for sure man we gotta hang out together ! I'm still in Sevilla and everythings going great. I have plans to go to Peru for June and July to study afro-peruvian rhythms (got a grant man!!!). Anyway I hope your doing good in Toronto and that your having a blast !
Well I'm over in Washington DC for like 10 days or something, but hoping to maybe see if I can get up north. Might as well seeing as I'm over! Depends though- not sure if the crew around in Montreal or not. I can't wait though...been ages since I've had a non-gigging holiday! x
yo yo yo...just spotting you online there. Hows everything going at school? I'm coming over your side of the atlantic after christmas, though not sure if I'll have time to come to Toronto :( r x
hey andy! i didn't know you lived in toronto! looking forward to seeing you...it's been so long! don't know if i'll have to time for a lesson this time around...i'll let you know! how have you been?!
That's so great, Andy. I'm really happy for you. And hey, if you liked that Owen Pallett on my site, check out him playing live with live-recorded loops! http://youtube.com/watch?v=NB05Lt3VbNg
Got a show tomorrow at 12h pm in Dorchester Park (Rene-Levesque corner Metcalfe street). I'll be playing with an Italian singer... It's great stuff and free. If you want come over and check it out !
Hey Andy great to see ya here. Just back home from Goderich, about to hit the pillow after our flight back to Scotland. Great to see you and Jaime there and for the tunes and songs we caught. Will send you the cheese hat pics when I get a moment!! All the best, Steve and the Malinkies.
How is life with you? Hope you enjoy Goderich Festival. It looks like great fun. And good luck with all your studies this coming year as well. Hope you still get time to do loads of playing.
Hey Andy. Jonny here from the Shetland Isles. I saw you perform with the McDades at the folk festival this may. I just had to comment on how much i enjoyed seeing you and the band in action. Hope to see and the group back here sometime in the future. Cheers Jonny
Hi to all my MySpace friends around the world! I don't usually use Myspace to promote my own beliefs, but I was recently asked to sign a very important online petition asking international bodies like the WTO and IMF to work to rid the world of child labour. There are so many children suffering in this world so that we can enjoy cheap luxuries and an easy life. There is not much we can do as individuals, but this we CAN do. It's easy...one click and you're there, one more click and you've made a difference! I spent the first half of my life in Hong Kong (I'm 13 now) and I've seen little kids in Southern China exploited and vulnerable. I always remember that but for an accident of birth, I could have been one of those children. I'm not asking you to run a marathon or anything...just move your mouse here: http://www.icftu.org/petition.asp?Name=childlabour - and do the right thing. Thank you and have a great summer! Aysha.
Hello Andy!
Good hearin you at the Folk Festival in Shetland here, hopefully see you and the McDades back here soon! That was my first time singing in the folk festival, and really lookin forward to next year if i can get a place in the line up next year as well, although i may be at university!
