Biography
Patrick and Brian Noonan of the WGN Overnight Show and Karen 03/14/2010
Patrick Cannady (uilleann pipes and whistles) and Karen Cook Cannady (fiddles) are Irish traditional musicians who specialize in the dance music of rural Ireland. We can be booked as a duo or with our other musical friends.
We have just returned from our latest trip, up again to The Cities for IrishFair. At the newly re-named "Traditional Music Tent", we opened Sunday's festivities with some nice music from the West of Ireland. Via Chicago of course, so it had a touch of "South Side" to it :)
In July, we went up to The Cities for the Celtic Open Mic in St. Paul. What a great venue and we got to see our musical friends and the family. There is some great talent up there, we really enjoyed ourselves!
In May, we did a roadtrip to southwest Missouri, with stops at DesMoines, Iowa; Kansas City, Springfield ending up in Monett and then St. Louis on the way back. In Monett, Patrick and Karen played for Patrick's Grandmother Cannady's memorial, a very moving and sad time. We then stopped for tunes in St. Louis, then home.
As is our May tradition, we enjoyed the Great Fun of the The Great Northern Irish Piper's Club Event, on a tugboat on the Mississippi River, just fantastic! We played on the tugboat and in the concert, visited with family and friends and generally just had great times!
CelticFest weekend earlier in May was interesting, lots of changes in emphasis and sponsorship. The uilleann piper lineup was great, as always. Glad to see it going strong!
In April, we made it to the St. Louis Tionol, where we were able to partake in sessions and see the concert. On the Midwest Irish Focus Blog, there is a video of our "uilleann piper's session"! "seven or eight uilleann pipers in full flight..a sight you soon don't forget.." according to Caleb Pete Maher, the publisher.
Last year, Patrick was the Featured Piper at IrishFair in St. Paul at the Pipes and Session Tent. We have played at many events in Chicago, including playing at CelticFest every year.
We just love to play Irish traditional music, whether we are gigging or not!
