“My two greatest early musical influences were Woody Guthrie and the McPeake Family from Belfast” (Bob Dylan)
“In 1985, I met Bob Dylan for the first time backstage at Slane Castle. He sat there talking about the McPeakes….this Irish group I’d never heard of. Then I began to listen more carefully to the bold and the bald sound of Irish folk singers.” (Bono, U2)
‘McPeake’ began life as nothing more than a group of musicians who came together for special gigs and occasions. Francis McPeake first brought the band together for a stage show that he co-wrote based on the Titanic in 2003. Since then they have worked with many prominent Irish artists, including Brian Kennedy, Finbar Furey, Kieran Goss, Juliet Turner, Ralph McTell etc.
There are no musical borders that ‘McPeake’ doesn't cross, due to the varied musical backgrounds of its members. ‘McPeake’s’ members have performed with many international performers including Van Morrison, Mary Black, Ronan Keating, The McPeake Family, Riverdance, John Hurt, Denis Hopper, The Chieftains etc and bring this twist to ‘McPeake’.
Since coming together for one-off performances over the last 4 years, ‘McPeake’s’ unique approach to blending Irish traditional, folk, acoustic and country music has generated widespread interest from their audiences.
Francis McPeake – Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles
Francis McPeake IV, of the world-famous musical dynasty ‘The McPeake Family’, is a renowned and much-respected musician. Throughout the early 1990’s Francis IV performed on, managed and co-ordinated tours of the McPeake Family throughout the UK, America and Europe, additionally performing for and alongside artists such as Marianne Faithful, John Hurt (‘Alien’, ‘The Elephant Man’, ‘Captain Coreilli’s Mandolin’), Gerry Garcia (‘Ungrateful Dead’), Bono (‘U2’) and Denis Hopper (‘Easy Rider’, Blue velvet’, Speed’) Francis McPeake IV has toured extensively at an international level alongside artists including Calum McColl (Musical Director to Ronan Keating), Rod Quinn (Mary Black) and has co-produced alongside Shel Talmy (producer of ‘The Who’, ‘The Kinks’ and Elton John).
In October 2002, Francis was the musical co-ordinator on a £5 million movie ‘The boys from County Clare’, starring Andrea Corr (‘The Corrs’,‘Evita’), Bernard Hill (‘Titanic’, ‘Lord of the Rings’), Patrick Bergin (‘Sleeping with the Enemy’, ‘Robin Hood’) and Colum Meaney (‘Star Trek-The Next generation’, ‘The Commitments’).
Mairead Forde – Fiddle
Mairead hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland and from being enrolled at an early age in Tin Whistle classes at the Francis McPeake School of Music, Mairead quickly came to terms with the techniques of the tin whistle but her goal was always to play the fiddle! Within a few years of taking up the fiddle, Mairead was competing in All-Ireland Fleadh competitions. Her first professional tour was at 17yrs with the Irish Harp Orchestra on a European Christmas Tour and she has subsequently toured throughout USA and Europe and was invited to perform at the Coolidge Theatre, Library of Congress, Washington DC as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme 2007. She has worked with many artists including Brian Kennedy, Juliet Turner, Ralph McTell, Donogh Hennessy etc.
Sean O’Kane – Keys, Button Accordion
Sean was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and also attended the Francis McPeake School of Music from his early years, again beginning on the Tin Whistle but quickly progressing to the Button Accordion.
Sean has competed in many All-Ireland Fleadh competitions and alongside Mairead was a member of Trad Og who were placed runner-up in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards. Sean was also invited to perform at the Coolidge Theatre, Library of Congress, Washington DC as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme 2007.
Peter Wallace – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Peter is from Newtownards, Northen Ireland. He studied Popular Music Production at Huddersfield University and was a popular performer in the vibrant live music scene in the North of England. Peter undertook his placement arrangement in the Recording Studio of the Francis McPeake School of Music and through this he became the lead singer in the band!
Peter is from a predominantly Folk & Blues background and brings this interesting twist to the McPeake sound.
Hi, guys! Wish I'd had more time to hang out and chat on Sunday. Hopefully you guys will make it back to Chicago - or I'll make it back over to Ireland - sometime soon!
Enjoy the rest of your tour, and remember to stay right while driving! ;-)
Clubsamwich Exclusive We have been given access to an Exclusive new track 'Tout Pour Apprende' by The Lifebuoy Project. The track is up for FREE DOWNLOAD for just one week, on our myspace music player. If you love wierd ambient electronica mixed with a slither of postrock-ness then be sure to check out "The Lifebuoy Project" on the following address... www.myspace.com/lifebuoyofficial Clubsamwich.
Rhythm Festival 2009
21-23 August
Twinwood Arena, Clapham, Beds, MK41 6AB
The Proclaimers, Alabama 3, Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, The Beat, Terry Reid, Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers, James Hunter, Alvin Youngblood Hart, The Blow Monkeys, Pentangle, The Strawbs, Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash and LOADS more...
http://www.rhythmfestival.net
I was delighted to meet you and the Band in Armagh on Sunday! Very impressed with this line up - great new music and songs, arrangements and musicianship! Greetings and compliments to yourself, Paula, Mairead, Sean, Peter and Ciaran ... and of course to your Da! Well done!
This years festival is headlined by Billy Bragg (Friday), Seth Lakeman (Sunday) and Peatbog Faeries (Saturday) with many more top artists also performing incl the award winning The Demon Barbers and Henry Priestman.
Visit www.beverleyfestival.com for TICKETS and MORE INFO
Hi guys! The School has integrated a Chipin button into its myspace profile. We are raising money to keep the traditional classes running - trying our hardest to prevent the school from closing.<br /><br />The Chipin button allows people all over the world to make a donation towards our cause - starting at $1!!<br /><br />I hope you will spread the word about this and support our cause!<br /><br />Happy Easter to you all<br /><br /><br />
Hi McPeake<br /><br />The Francis McPeake School of Music are holding a fundraising night this Friday, 27th March '09 upstairs in the Hercules Bar, Belfast City Centre @ 9pm.<br /><br />Quiz, Raffle, Great Prizes and music a plenty!!!<br /><br />Everyone welcome!!!<br /><br />Donation at the Door!<br /><br />Please come along and show your support!!
