Welcome

Welcome to the official Web site of Four Men and a Dog

Four Men and a Dog are more than a band,  they are a rare event. Once in a Blue Moon it's a case of "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!"  The Dogs are a gathering of stellar traditional Irish musicians who controversially fuse boogie and blues music with the pure drop of the traditional instrumental. It's rare to see them because individually they ply busy solo careers. Every 5 years or so the the call of the wild produces and album, that in trad circles, excites and frustrates the status quo in equal measure." YOU CAN'T FUSE BLUES, BOOGIE AND TRAD!" The Dogs say "AYE YE CAN!" AND THEY DO!

They've done so over 5 albums and 20 years of notable gigging So, Who ARE they?

GINO LUPARI (BODHRÁN, VOCALS, BIG HEART)
Many have called him "king of the bodhrán"; When asked, in Rhythm Magazine, who her favourite percussionists were Evelyn Glennie responded "Anything by Gino Lupari of Four Men and a Dog". Gino has recorded and performed with, Sinead Ó Connor and Shane McGowan and the Popes and appeared in the BBC drama THE PASSION. Gino could have a career as a comedian.

GERRY (BANJO) O'CONNOR
Known in Ireland simply as GERRY BANJO he was described by the Wall St Journal as... "THE GREATEST BANJO PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF IRISH MUSIC" His 2005 solo album received the Irish Times FOLK ALBUM OF THE YEAR award. He has recorded and played The Band, Chris Rea, The Dubliners, Clannad, The Waterboys, Rita Coolidge, Bela Fleck and Earl Scruggs.

CATHAL HAYDEN (FIDDLE, BANJO)
Cathal is the trad heart of The Dogs. His 2006 solo album 'Live in Belfast' is described as A MASTERCLASS IN IRISH MUSIC. Gaining enough accolades over 3 decades to be asked to accompany an Irish presidential visit to South America last year. Cathal has been a guest of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, USA and has toured China as a guest with the Dónal Lunny Band. He has also contributed scores for the film HEAR MY SONG and the Marie Jones drama THE BLIND FIDDLER. Cathal currently collaborates in a trio with the world-renowned accordion virtuoso Máirtín Ó Connor and multi-instrumentalist, Seamie O’Dowd.

KEVIN DOHERTY (GUITAR, VOCALS)
Kevin is the songwriter of the bunch, having been covered by "THE BAND", "MARY BLACK", "THE CROMATIX", and many others. HE has released 2 acclaimed solo albums (one produced by Levon Helm and recorded at THE BAND's studio in Woodstock) and is in demand as a co-writer with the likes of Paul Brady and the great Henry McCullough. He has also written music for the movies THE WATERMELLON MAN and THE BASKET CASE.

DÓNAL MURPHY (THE BOX)
Dónal rounds off the bands trad credentials, All-Ireland winner in accordion competition multiple times and touring the world with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann as an ambassador of Irish culture.  He met Cathal in 1990 formed The Dogs and triumphed when their debut album "BARKING MAD" won The Hotpress Best Folk Album Award. Dónal is a founding and current member of the extensively travelled “Sliabh Notes” and has performed with the world famous dancer "Michael Flatley" in his global-production; 'Feet of Flames'.

So that's who they are individually but 'occasionally', and 'collectively' they are FOUR MEN AND A DOG. They're at it again on WALLOP THE SPOT out now!

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New Album - Wallop the Spot:

"As you'd expect from a line up of this calibre, the musicianship on Wallop The Spot is magnificent throughout"

- David Granville

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1991 Barking Mad

Debut Album 'Barking Mad', awarded "Album of the Year" by Folk Roots magazine, 1991

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1993 Shifting Gravel

"This is the eagerly awaited follow-up to the poll-topping best-seller "Barking Mad" and it represents a change of gear along with its change of personnel."

- Living Tradition Magazine

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1995 Doctor A's Secret Remedies

This 1995 CD from Four Men & a Dog was recorded in Woodstock, NY, at Levon Helm's studio. It features Garth Hudson and Randy Ciarlante from the famous group "The Band". The producer of the CD was Aaron Hurwitz (Dr. A), who also produced most of the Band's 1993 album

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1996 Long Roads

"Long Roads represents their fourth release, recorded in Woodstock, NY at Levon Helm's studio and engineered by the Band's producer Aaron Hurwitz. Their music ranges wide, from southern rock, country and bluegrass styles to blues, salsa... even polka, without ever losing coherence or congruity. Four Men & A Dog were one of Ireland's best kept secrets: the band recently performed for a BBC telecast as well as shared stage with President Clinton and Van Morrison for the Belfast Peace Christmas tree lighting in front of a global audience of millions. Long Roads has all the earmarks of a "must have" among music enthusiasts of all factions and passions."

- Transatlantic Records press release

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2002 Maybe Tonight HOOK002

To quote renowned Belfast Playwright Marie Jones, “I’ve never heard a CD before that has the power to literally transport you to the gig. So powerful, you feel the excitement, experience the adrenaline and witness the brilliance of their live performance” ...