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| Cover of Dick Gaughan |
Dick Gaughan, a multi-talented, Scottish-born guitarist with strong Mayo links, will play in Matt Molloy’s Yard Bar, Westport, on Wednesday, April 17, and in Ballina Arts Centre on Saturday, April 20.
A highly acclaimed and hugely popular singer, songwriter and interpreter of traditional and contemporary folk songs, Gaughan displays passion and political conviction in his music. His songs have been recorded by Billy Bragg, Christy Moore, Mary Black, Roy Bailey, Capercaillie and many others.
Gaughan’s voice can capture the heart with the most traditional of ballads one moment and stir the fire of the spirit with his uncompromising commentary on social injustices the next.
A quick browse of Gaughan’s website reveals his Mayo connections. His paternal grandfather was an Irish speaker and fiddle player from Doohoma in Iorrais. Gaughan’s grandmother, Bridget Madden, was born in Glasgow of Irish parents from Killala. She played button accordion and was also a singer.
His mother, Frances MacDonald, was a Highland Scot whose first language was Gaelic and who sang in both Gaelic and English.
Gaughan was brought up immersed in the musical traditions and culture of the Gaels, both Scots and Irish, which provide the foundation for everything he does.
A professional musician and singer since 1970, he has been playing guitar since the age of seven. Working mainly in the folk or Celtic music genres, he has recorded extensively since then in many countries and in various combinations. Has also worked extensively as a session musician in a wide variety of musical styles, and has worked as a record producer/engineer, midi programmer, composer and orchestrator.
Gaughan has been the subject of three television documentaries in the UK, as well as many radio documentaries in several countries. His 1981 album ‘Handful of Earth’ was voted Album of the Decade for the 1980s in both Readers’ and Critics’ polls in ‘Folk Roots’ (now called ‘fRoots’).
He plays most fretted stringed instruments but his natural instrument, and perhaps what he is happiest doing, is acoustic guitar.
For more on Dick Gaughan, visit www.dickgaughan.co.uk.
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