Paddy Keenan sings the blues at 4am after a great show in Hammersmith.

Head is sore today, but full of priceless songs and stories.

Learned this one from Frank Harte.

Hello friends,

Following a weekend of late-night playing and singing with the brilliant Dervish (currently on tour in the U.K. - www.dervish.ie), I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been asked to open for the legendary Paddy Keenan on Feb. 20th at www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk.

Paddy is an icon of Irish traditional music (www.paddykeenan.com/), and in a nice coincidence, was in a band with my father for a few years in the early 1970s.

My friend Rory referred to my explorations with my folk ‘roots’ as a ‘reinvention’, and this is how it feels. I find songs of the people, from every age, a lot more appealing than the indie/pop/rock scene at the moment.

The show on the 20th will include a mix of Irish and Scottish folk songs, and maybe an original or two.

Can’t wait,

Gary

Playing late in to the night with Dervish. Camden Town Feb 1 2010.

Liam Clancy RIP: www.liamclancy.com.

A rough and raw video of a Scottish song I learned from the recording of Irish ballad singer Liam Clancy.

Christmas with the family.

This is where I’ll be at in a few weeks time…

I like this.