John debuted in Connecticut with a new musical collaborator, John Brennan
on January 4 in a fabulou
s sold out event.
John Whelan 
"All these things - my childhood memories, my father's love of music, the
way I can relate to an audience … are why I love to perform".
(scroll
down to read about Flynn Coen solo artist & member of The John Whelan Band)
Although he grew up near London in Dunstable, England, John
Whelan was raised on the fiddle and pipe music of Ireland. At the age of 14, already a seasoned winner of numerous accordion
championships, John recorded his first album. Named in honor of his father, Pride of Wexford was no passing fancy -
the album is still is print and selling steadily.
John's artistry blossomed in America. He moved to the U.S.
in 1980 and soon was performing with Riverdance fiddler Eileen Ivers in one of the most celebrated Irish duos of the decade.
His solo album From the Heart became a 1991 finalist in the Celtic/British Isles category of the National Association
of Independent Record Distributors and Manufacturers (NAIRD) awards. In 1996 he signed with Narada and released his first
solo album on the label, Celtic Reflections. His next release Celtic Crossroads spent more than two months in
the top 10 of Billboard's world music charts.
In late 1997 John formed the JOHN WHELAN BAND. In 1998, the
band enjoyed a milestone year, thrilling audiences at such major American music events as the Philadelphia Folk Festival,
Washington Irish Folk Festival, as well as throughout Europe on a junket sponsored by Virgin Records, Narada's parent label.
Going solo, John appeared in the critically acclaimed "Once Upon an Accordion" North American Tour. Additionally he appeared
in his first motion picture Ride With The Devil directed by Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, Ice Storm).
Named Traditionalist of the Year by Irish Echo magazine
in 1998, John won high praise from Celtic music authority Earle Hitchner "As an instrumentalist, composer, producer, and arranger
who brings both passion and playfulness to his music while respecting the tradition it's rooted in. John Whelan has richly
earned the Irish Echo's highest honor for traditional music in 1998."
John's latest
album, "Come To Dance", serves notice to genre purists that the seven-time All-Ireland Champion is as instrumentally
agile as ever. It also reveals his consummate understanding of a centuries-old repertoire. The album was recorded live in
his hometown church, St. Gabriel's in Milford, Ct. John says, "There were no fixes, no second chances, no overdubs - everything
is as live as it can be. Sometimes I would check the tracks by dancing to them. If the rhythm is there, if the feel is there,
people are going to enjoy…" He continues, " many of these tunes have a personal significance to me. The Concert Reel
is a tune I played for my first All-Ireland Championship, and Father O'Flynn is the very first tune I ever learned
to play".
John resides in Milford, CT. with his wife, Louise, and
their two sons.
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PO Box 2157 Milford, CT 06460 |
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Flynn Cohen is
one of the country's premier guitar accompanists. He began playing guitar at the age of eleven, and subsequently studied under
such luminaries as John Renbourne (Pentangle), Scott Nygaard and Paul Brinkley (Modern Mandolin Quartet).
Flynn has degrees in music from Dartington College of the Arts in England and Mills College in California. He currently
lives in Boston where he plays bluegrass in addition to Irish traditional music. This past year he joined the John Whelan
Band, most recently accompanying John on his highly successful and critically acclaimed European tour.
