Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly began playing traditional Irish music at the age of 7 under the tutelage of Clareman Brendan Mulkere. He took up the mandolin aged 9 and the banjo aged 10 and it wasn't long before he made his mark on the Irish scene winning at his first attempt the All Ireland Championship aged 11 on banjo, going on to win eight All Ireland Championships in total in various age groups (four each on banjo and mandolin).

Along with half a dozen players worldwide, this London musician is one of the young challengers for Gerry O'Connor's crown as king of the tenor banjo. Brian's exciting, dynamic playing is founded on excellent technique in the modern style: triplets, runs, and the occasional chord, and also in the current wave of '20s emulation, with a big dollop of Hot Club swing added to the mix. Brian's full-on approach works very well.

Brian draws on the talents on other top session players from in and around London, most notably Colete O'Leary on the box and Jamie Smith on the fiddle.

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