James Keelaghan

Canadas finest singer-songwriter -Dave Marsh, Rolling Stone magazine
A joy to hear, just beautiful - Eric Bibb
James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. For almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity. Fusing his insatiable appetite for finding the next unique storyline Keelaghan also forges his pieces with brilliantly defined craftsmanship and a monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community.
Armed with a songbook that has enlightened and enthralled, and been embraced, by audiences around the world, Keelaghans life as an artist is one that is a perpetual journey on so many levels. Most importantly its a journey that has invited fans of literate and layered songwriting to be a part of his artistic expeditions, some that weave their way through marvellously etched stories of a historical nature with underlying universal themes, and others that mine the depths of the soul and the emotional trails of human relations. His masterful story telling, over the course of ten records, has been part of the bedrock of his success, earning Keelaghan his share of nominations and awards, and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia.
A disciplined visionary, Keelaghans aces have long been a love of language and history. His skills as a thespian explain his ability to make an immediate connection with audiences in a live setting, and he has an ear for a memorable melody, and harmonies that make those melodies glisten.
Contemporary folk songs, at their very best, offer an insight into the hardships, attitudes, and resolve of characters and events that shape our day-to-day lives. You can dress these songs up in inspired arrangements and intricate instrumentation but, at their very essence, the archetypal folk song is all about the story and people. Something such compelling songwriters as Eric Bogle, Si Kahn, Ewan MacColl, and Stan Rogers all understood and mined so effectively.
Truly, throughout a career that now spans almost four decades, the Juno and Canadian Folk Music Award winner has created a repertoire of incalculable importance a unique body of work, either inspired by or drawn from the folk tradition. Ten solo albums flush with enduring lyrical relevance.
There have been several mouth-watering collaborations in the writing department. Celebrated names in the folk world such as Karine Polwart, Jez Lowe, Catherine MacLellan, Lynn Miles and Cara Luft have all contributed to notable Keelaghan releases. I love co-writing, he says, its the spark that gets me motivated the fresh approach to a lyric or a different way of forming a melody for a song is so stimulating.
For more info, music and video visithttps://keelaghan.com/
Plus support fromPeter & Jane www.peterandjane.co.uk [//www.peterandjane.co.uk]
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