hi res photo by Keith B

Lyric, fluid, and precisely as tricky as he needs to be…probably the greatest Irish fiddler living. -The Village Voice

Kevin Burke’s fiddle playing has been at the forefront of traditional music for over 30 years. Whether solo or accompanied, on record or in concert, Burke is an immensely engaging performer. He has been established as a first class musician ever since his work in the early 1970’s with such renowned performers as Arlo Guthrie, Christy Moore, The Bothy Band, and his far-reaching solo album, If the Cap Fits. During his long musical career Kevin has earned international acclaim in both Europe and America as a solo performer, a teacher, and as a member of some of folk music’s foremost groups including Celtic Fiddle Festival and Patrick Street. He is also a featured member of Grammy winner Tim O’Brien’s wonderful crossover band, The Crossing.

Kevin’s contribution to music was acknowledged by The National Endowment for the Arts when he was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship, the USA’s highest honor for excellence in the folk and traditional arts. In Ireland he was given the prestigious Gradam Ceoil award, acknowledging him as a master of the tradition.

Although Kevin has spent much of his life playing in a group context, he has never lost his love for solo fiddle music – the “naked fiddle” as he himself sometimes puts it. This is very evident in his live solo release, In Concert, a performance of mostly unaccompanied traditional pieces.

With the great popularity of various groups over the last 25 years or so, many people have forgotten that this kind of music used to be played mainly solo. The bands, groups and accompanists are a relatively recent development… so I thought it would be interesting to let people hear the ‘naked’ fiddle once more. –Kevin Burke

The great Irish fiddler Kevin Burke…plays the fiddle so smoothly, with such buoyancy, and with such relaxed showmanship, that even a large concert hall becomes intimate.
–The New Yorker Magazine

One of the great living Celtic fiddlers.
–The New York Times

House Concert Details

SLO House Concerts are by invitation and reservation only.

Please click here to request an invitation and indicate for which show and how many seats you would like to reserve. We will then send you a confirmation email with directions and other information.

7:00pm Show: Doors open at 6:30; show starts at 7:00.

Suggested Donation: $20-$25. ALL of the money goes directly to the performers.