Born in Belfast Ireland, Andriu Mac Gabhann or "Belfast
Andi"as he is fondly known in Montréal, Canada, has played traditional and
contemporary Irish music for many years.
Andi has played major folk
festivals in Ireland,Scotland,England,Canada and many Irish pubs in Munich,
Paris, Catalonia and as far as Ios & Paros in the Greek Islands in the
Aegean.
Now living in Montréal with his wife Diane and their three
daughters Saoirse, Aoife, & Aine Mary. As a singer/songwriter &
guitarist Andi reels through classic and modern Celtic songs, with the
occasional chant accompanied by the tribal rhythm of the Bodhran (Irish goatskin
handrum).
Belfast Andi has played at the Montreal Celtic Festival,
Montreal International Acadian / Celtic Festival, Mémoires Racines, Brockville
Celtic Festival, Festi-Biere Chambly, Montreal Beer Festival, Montreal Highland
Games, Québec City's FIAT Festival , Québec City Celtic festival the Ville Marie
Feis, Montreal Folk festival, Celt Fest Montreal ,Douglastown Irish week in the
Gaspe. Andi was one of two performers from Ireland to play at the
Internationally acclaimed Festival traditions du Monde in Sherbrooke,Quebec on
the 12th & 13th of August 2011 .Belfast Andi & Swift Years played live
at " Theatre just pour Rire" & Club Ballatou in Montreal, to Diane Labelle's
innovative belly dance fusion of Celtic music and North African
choreography.
The native Ulsterman's distinctive voice has been heard
over the air waves on CBC, Radio Centreville, Mohawk radio Khanesatake and the
Irish Show CJAD 900am. His television appearances include, CBC, CTV, Global TV,
TQS. Andi joined the chosen few as house guest on CBC's "Homerun" where he
played live in the studio and spoke intimately of his life, growing up during
''The Troubles" in Belfast. Andi was also a guest on "Debbie Travis Face Lift",
and A Makeover Story on TLC (where they cut off Andi's trademark long locks and
viking beard and decked him out in designer clothes). This look lasted a few
months and happily Andi has his long hair & beard back and is caught on
acting himself again,occasionally seen riding around Montréal on his Hog.
Belfast Andi's latest television interview was in March 2009, on CTV's "My
Montreal". Debra Arbec featured Andi on the Montreal cultural segment up close
and personal at home with his family. In October 2011 Andi was interviewed for
"The Irish Times" an national newspaper from Dublin ,Eire . The segment was
enjoyed by thousands in Ireland and Irish times readers scattered around the
globe.
Montréal has found a new son to keep the "Celtic Music Sessions"
alive in the local "Irish Pubs". As a host of the jam sessions Andi has
organized over 1,500 gatherings in his 13 years in Québec. Some guests at the
jams have been Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea) Jeff Martin (The Tea Party), Gerry
Holland (Cape Breton fiddler). British movie Director Nicolas Roeg was so
impressed by Andi's singing at one downtown watering hole, that he asked Belfast
Andi to record a song (Red haired woman)for his supernatural movie "Puffball"
shot in Ireland in 2006. The film premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Also the movie played at the Transilvainian film fest, Galway film festival
& Montréal world film festival, to name a few."Puffball" is currently on
general release worldwide (Now on DVD.)
Belfast Andi was invited to play with
many Irish traditional musicians, such as Paddy Keenan (Uillean piper with the
Bothy Band), Moya Brennan (Singer with Clannad) Desi Wilkinson (Irish flute
player from Crann), Chris Crilly (Genie winner and singer/fiddler from Barde)
and the late great Toby Kinsella.
Instrumentation
Belfast Andi
(vocals, acoustic guitar, bodhran). For live electric shows Andi is accompanied
by Montreal Worldbilly band "Swift Years" , Patrick Hutchinson (Electric
guitars), Bob cussen (Backing vocals, mandolin, banjo) Suzanne Ungar (Bass
guitar).
Andi also plays with various local Montreal musicians who
specialize in "Celtic" & Quebecoise music.
Discography
Andi has recorded a
song with local Montréal fiddler Christophe Comte on his CD "Moira", 3 tracks on
"Le Dragon Rouge" a mix of French & Irish music.The Belfastman also recorded
the song"Red haired Woman" written by Nick Roeg for his Irish film "Puffball" .
Andi sang and beat out the bodhran on Swift Year's 2010 CD "No sorrow for Me".
Belfast Andi's solo album "All that Glitters" is on Montreal Inde Label "Flaming
Nora records"