Bap Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Martin "Bap" Kennedy is a singer-songwriter
from Belfast
, Northern Ireland
and older brother of singer Brian Kennedy
. He is noted for writing the song "Moonlight Kiss" which was on the soundtrack for the film Serendipity
(starring John Cusack
and Kate Beckinsale
).
Kennedy was in a successful band, Energy Orchard
for many years and has written and performed songs with artists such as Steve Earle
and Van Morrison
. He has also recorded a number of well-received solo albums including Domestic Blues, Lonely Street and The Big Picture. Following the release of The Big Picture
, he toured the USA with Mark Knopfler
of Dire Straits
and also performed for five nights at the Royal Albert Hall
in London, England.
Bap Kennedy became the lead singer and songwriter
for the rock
group Energy Orchard
touring in Europe
and the United States during the late 1980s and continuing until the band broke up in 1996. During this time the band recorded four studio albums and a farewell live album
on Saint Patrick's Day
at the Mean Fiddler in London, England. They had initially signed with MCA Records
and then moved to Transatlantic Records
in 1993.
After receiving a phone call from Steve Earle
, Kennedy joined him in Nashville, Tennessee
and recorded his first solo album
which was produced by Earle. The album entitled Domestic Blues featured vocal contributions from Nanci Griffith
and was a critical and commercial success charting at number eight on the Billboard 200
. Remarkably, four of the songs on the album would feature in award-winning movies.
His album, Lonely Street, released in 2000, featured Herbie Flowers
on bass
and one of the tracks, "Moonlight Kiss" appeared in the movie, Serendipity
. In the meantime, Kennedy also developed and produced work for London record labels including The King a tribute album to Elvis Presley
and Gravelands, a favourite of John Peel
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
Kennedy's 2005 album, The Big Picture
was highly acclaimed, with a four out of five star rating by Mojo
. One of the songs on the album was the song "Milky Way" that was co-written by fellow Belfast born friend and mentor, Van Morrison
. Another song, "On the Mighty Ocean Alcohol" featured Shane Macgowan
who also appeared (in secret) with Bap Kennedy at several gigs in London, England at the Boogaloo bar.
Kennedy recently performed in the US on the 17th and 18 March 2009, at the Belcourt Theatre
in Nashville, Tennessee
and South by Southwest
in Austin, Texas
, respectively.
Kennedy released a new album entitled Howl On
on 3 August 2009 on his label, Lonely Street, that is available in both CD and download format. One of the songs on the album is a cover of "Hey Joe
" previously covered by Jimi Hendrix
. Kennedy and his band appeared at the Black Box in Belfast on 4 July 2009 performing "Hey Joe", along with others from the new album.
Kennedy performed at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival
at the Acoustic Stage on 27 June 2009.
Kennedy recorded a new album in early 2011, entitled The Sailor's Revenge, produced by former Dire Straits
frontman Mark Knopfler
at Knopfler's British Grove Studios
in London. The album is to be released on 30 January 2012.
and author
Brenda (Boyd) Kennedy and resides in Holywood
, Northern Ireland.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and older brother of singer Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy (singer)
Brian Edward Patrick Kennedy is an Irish singer-songwriter and author, known for his ballads, and has represented Ireland at Eurovision 2006. He is the younger brother of musician Bap Kennedy.-Personal life:...
. He is noted for writing the song "Moonlight Kiss" which was on the soundtrack for the film Serendipity
Serendipity (film)
Serendipity is a 2001 romantic comedy, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. It was written by Marc Klein and directed by Peter Chelsom...
(starring John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
and Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale
Kathryn Bailey "Kate" Beckinsale is an English actress. After some minor television roles, she made her film debut in Much Ado About Nothing while still a student at Oxford University...
).
Kennedy was in a successful band, Energy Orchard
Energy Orchard
Energy Orchard were an Irish guitar-based rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s, from Belfast. Fronted by Bap Kennedy , their style drew heavily on the influence of Van Morrison and other R&B, but incorporated traditional elements of Irish folk music...
for many years and has written and performed songs with artists such as Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. He has also recorded a number of well-received solo albums including Domestic Blues, Lonely Street and The Big Picture. Following the release of The Big Picture
The Big Picture (Bap Kennedy album)
The Big Picture is the sixth solo studio album by Bap Kennedy, released on August 2, 2005 on Loose Records. It is a mix of country, Americana and Celtic soul with guest vocals by Shane McGowan and also features a song co-written with Van Morrison...
, he toured the USA with Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
of Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
and also performed for five nights at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London, England.
Musical career
Kennedy's first band was the punk band Sellout formed in 1978 when he was sixteen years old. The band was formed to support rock group Uncle Waldo, playing in a local Belfast club.Bap Kennedy became the lead singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
for the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Energy Orchard
Energy Orchard
Energy Orchard were an Irish guitar-based rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s, from Belfast. Fronted by Bap Kennedy , their style drew heavily on the influence of Van Morrison and other R&B, but incorporated traditional elements of Irish folk music...
touring in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States during the late 1980s and continuing until the band broke up in 1996. During this time the band recorded four studio albums and a farewell live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
on Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
at the Mean Fiddler in London, England. They had initially signed with MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
and then moved to Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records
Transatlantic Records was a British independent record label. It was established in 1961. It started began primarily as an importer of American folk, blues and jazz records - by many of the artists who influenced the burgeoning British folk and blues boom. Within a couple of years, the company had...
in 1993.
After receiving a phone call from Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Kennedy joined him in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and recorded his first solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
which was produced by Earle. The album entitled Domestic Blues featured vocal contributions from Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
and was a critical and commercial success charting at number eight on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Remarkably, four of the songs on the album would feature in award-winning movies.
His album, Lonely Street, released in 2000, featured Herbie Flowers
Herbie Flowers
Herbie Flowers is an English musician specialising in bass guitar, double-bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T...
on bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
and one of the tracks, "Moonlight Kiss" appeared in the movie, Serendipity
Serendipity
Serendipity means a "happy accident" or "pleasant surprise"; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it. The word has been voted as one of the ten English words hardest to translate in June 2004 by a British translation company. However, due to its...
. In the meantime, Kennedy also developed and produced work for London record labels including The King a tribute album to Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Gravelands, a favourite of John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
and Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
Kennedy's 2005 album, The Big Picture
The Big Picture (Bap Kennedy album)
The Big Picture is the sixth solo studio album by Bap Kennedy, released on August 2, 2005 on Loose Records. It is a mix of country, Americana and Celtic soul with guest vocals by Shane McGowan and also features a song co-written with Van Morrison...
was highly acclaimed, with a four out of five star rating by Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
. One of the songs on the album was the song "Milky Way" that was co-written by fellow Belfast born friend and mentor, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. Another song, "On the Mighty Ocean Alcohol" featured Shane Macgowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
who also appeared (in secret) with Bap Kennedy at several gigs in London, England at the Boogaloo bar.
Kennedy recently performed in the US on the 17th and 18 March 2009, at the Belcourt Theatre
Belcourt Theatre
The Belcourt Theatre is a 2-cinema theater operating in Nashville's Hillsboro Village district. It is operating by a non-profit organization, and features independent films, as well as live performances.- History :...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, respectively.
Kennedy released a new album entitled Howl On
Howl On
Howl On the fourth solo studio album by Bap Kennedy, was released on August 3, 2009 on Kennedy's new label, Lonely Street Discs. Excluding a cover of "Hey Joe", all songs on the album were written by Kennedy. This is the first album he has written and recorded in his native Northern Ireland...
on 3 August 2009 on his label, Lonely Street, that is available in both CD and download format. One of the songs on the album is a cover of "Hey Joe
Hey Joe
"Hey Joe" is an American popular song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and as such, has been performed in a multitude of musical styles by hundreds of different artists since it was first written. "Hey Joe" tells the story of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico...
" previously covered by Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
. Kennedy and his band appeared at the Black Box in Belfast on 4 July 2009 performing "Hey Joe", along with others from the new album.
Kennedy performed at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
at the Acoustic Stage on 27 June 2009.
Kennedy recorded a new album in early 2011, entitled The Sailor's Revenge, produced by former Dire Straits
Dire Straits
Dire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
frontman Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
at Knopfler's British Grove Studios
British Grove Studios
British Grove Studios is a recording studio located at 20 British Grove in Chiswick, West London, owned by musician Mark Knopfler.British Grove Studios was built by Mark Knopfler as "a monument to past and future technology". It has two studios...
in London. The album is to be released on 30 January 2012.
Personal life
Bap Kennedy is married to singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Brenda (Boyd) Kennedy and resides in Holywood
Holywood
Holywood is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the shore of Belfast Lough, between Belfast and Bangor. Holywood Exchange and Belfast City Airport are nearby. The town hosts an annual jazz and blues festival.-Name:...
, Northern Ireland.
Recorded with Energy Orchard
- Energy OrchardEnergy Orchard (album)Energy Orchard was the self-titled, debut album from Northern Ireland based rock band, Energy Orchard, and was released in 1990.-Track listing:#"Belfast" - 4:56#"Somebody's Brother" - 6:42#"Lion" - 4:48#"One, Two Brown Eyes" - 3:53...
(1990) - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#53 - Stop the MachineStop the MachineStop the Machine was the second album from Northern Ireland based rock band, Energy Orchard, and was released in 1992.-Track listing:# " All Alone" - 2:59# "It's All Over Now Baby Blue" - - 3:56...
(1992) - ShinolaShinola (Energy Orchard album)Shinola was the third album from Northern Ireland based rock band, Energy Orchard, and was released in 1993.-Track listing:# "Coming Through" - 4:34# "Madame George" - 6:01# "Atlantic City" - 3:40# "Stay Away" - 4:20...
(1993) - Pain KillerPain Killer (Energy Orchard album)Pain Killer was the fourth album from Northern Ireland based rock band, Energy Orchard, and was released in 1995.-Track listing:# "Wasted" - 4:48# "She's the One I Adore" - 4:06# "Remember My Name" - 4:41# "The Past Is Another Country" - 5:38...
(1995) - Orchardville (1996)
Recorded solo
- Domestic BluesDomestic BluesDomestic Blues was the first solo album from Northern Ireland based singer-songwriter, Bap Kennedy, and was released in 1998. The album was generally well-received, with allmusic calling it "an exceptionally intelligent recording" and Uncut saying that "[Domestic Blues is] a fine collection of...
(1998) - Hillbilly Shakespeare (1999)
- Lonely Street (2000)
- Rare Live & Bladdered (2000)
- Long Time a Comin: The Story So Far (2002)
- Moriarty's Blues (Standard Edition EP and Special Edition EP) (2005)
- The Big PictureThe Big Picture (Bap Kennedy album)The Big Picture is the sixth solo studio album by Bap Kennedy, released on August 2, 2005 on Loose Records. It is a mix of country, Americana and Celtic soul with guest vocals by Shane McGowan and also features a song co-written with Van Morrison...
(2005) - Howl OnHowl OnHowl On the fourth solo studio album by Bap Kennedy, was released on August 3, 2009 on Kennedy's new label, Lonely Street Discs. Excluding a cover of "Hey Joe", all songs on the album were written by Kennedy. This is the first album he has written and recorded in his native Northern Ireland...
(July 2009) - Moriarty's Blues (Combined Double EP) (2010)
- Songs from the Heart (2010)
- The Sailor's Revenge (2012)
External links
- bapkennedy.com
- Bap Kennedy on Facebook
- Bap Kennedy @ MySpace
- Bap Kennedy Fan Site
- Bap Kennedy Official videos
- [ Bap Kennedy@ allmusic]
- Bap Kennedy@ Artist Direct
- Bap Kennedy - The Triste interview
- Interview and live performance on Chicago TV show "Corporate Country Sucks"
- My Cultural Life: Bap Kennedy