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Brian Miller started playing Irish music as a 17-year-old in his decidedly non-Irish hometown of Bemidji, Minnesota. From that rather obscure beginning he has risen to be one of the busiest Irish traditional music performers of his generation living in the US. He acquired a deep understanding of the Irish tradition through many mentors in the Twin Cities including County Derry guitarist and singer Daithi Sproule and Co. Offaly accordion player Paddy O'Brien. He has also spent a lot of time in Cork, Ireland where he studied Irish music in college.
Brian’s primary instrument has always been the guitar and over the years his backing style using the DADGAD tuning has earned him a strong reputation throughout North American Irish music circles. Esteemed Irish music critic Earle Hitchner writes: “The backing of Miller on guitar flexes not just muscle but a fully complementary style.” Also a great traditional singer, he is the founder of the Traditional Singers Club of the Twin Cities. He added the Irish flute to his arsenal in 2000 while studying Irish music in Cork where he learned his first flute tunes from Conal O’Grada and Padraig Kelleher. Brian also plays the 4-course Greek bouzouki.
Brian has performed across North America and in Ireland with various groups including Bua, The Máirtín de Cógáin Project and the Two Tap Trio. He has been featured on MPR's All Things Considered, CBC Radio's Canada Live, and Ireland's RTE television, RTE radio and TG4 television. He has been a guest lecturer on the Irish song tradition at University College Cork and he teaches flute, whistle and guitar at the Saint Paul based Center for Irish Music. This year, Brian received a prestigious grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to fund his upcoming CD of Irish-style songs that were sung in Minnesotan lumber camps in the 1800s.
Brian is married to Norah Rendell, herself a touring singer and flute player originally from Vancouver, Canada. They live in Saint Paul, Minnesota.Brian Miller’s Discography:
The Máirtín de Cógáin Project, From Cork with Love, DUE OUT IN JUNE 2010
Two Tap Trio, A Night at the Fair, 2010
Bua, An Spealadoir, Mad River Records, 2009
The HiBs, The 40 Acre Notch, 2008
Norah Rendell and Brian Miller, Wait There Pretty One, 2007
Tommie Cunniffe, Unbuttoned, 2007
Bua, Live at Martyrs, 2006
The Doon Ceili Band, Around the World for Sport, Shanachie Records, 2006
Irish Traditional Music from University College Cork (compilation), 2006
Five Mile Chase, Your Town, 2005
Laura MacKenzie, Lifescapes: Bagpipes of Scotland, Compass Productions, 2004
Laura MacKenzie, Evidence, New Folk Records, 2003
Laura MacKenzie, Laura and the Lads, New Folk Records, 2003
Five Mile Chase, 5 Mile Chase, 2003
Laura MacKenzie, Tis The Season: Celtic Christmas, Compass Productions, 2002
Asher Gray, Kitty's Revenge, 2002
The Gaels, Bachelor's Quay, 2002
The Gaels, Whack Fol La Di La, 1999
The Gaels, Rince, 1998