Singer - Songwriter - Storyteller

“I've always been drawn to ‘story’ songs with vivid imagery and characters I can relate to.”

— Pete Kavanagh

pete kavanagh performing in Tommy Fletchers Naas. [Photo by Paul O'Rourke]

Pete Kavanagh is a singer-songwriter, a musician and storyteller from Co. Kildare, Ireland. His style is best described as Americana-infused folk. 

“My songs are portals into my inner emotions. They allow me to reach what is precious and sacred. When I perform, the songs live and breathe and I share a connection with the audience where the feelings are expressed and shared. This is the essence of my craft.” 

Pete's poignant ballad "Darkness Before Dawn", reflecting on a tragic event from 1921 in Newbridge, was notably recorded by Christy Moore and features on his latest album A Terrible Beauty. 

Whether on record or on stage, Pete Kavanagh delivers every note with soul, depth and authenticity. 

Pete is currently recording new songs and is set to perform a series of low-key, intimate gigs over the coming months. He is currently touring with The Muddy River Band – a powerhouse tribute to Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison.

“Pete Kavanagh from Naas wrote this ballad…when he sang it in The Red Hot Music Club in Kilcullen it was heard by my friend Noel Heavey. Noel tipped me off about this song and I set off in pursuit of Pete Kavanagh. Pete sent me the song and allowed me adjust it to “my fit” …. it’s short and complete  and describes a reckless and subsequently disastrous IRA raid on the NAAFI store in my home town of Newbridge…. It would have been a justifiable raid on the English Army of occupation had there not been an innocent civilian family asleep upstairs. This awful event took place 100 yards from our home in Moorefield Terrace. Yet I heard nothing of this tragedy until Pete’s fine song came my way.” 
- Christy Moore | Source: https://www.christymoore.com/october-2024/

Music

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    Darkness Before Dawn 3:16
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    Hold On 4:50
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    Mercy 6:09
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    Sweet Friend 3:53
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    Getting Things Done 3:49
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    To Hold the Red Rose 4:34
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    Can You See Me 3:03
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Musings

    A Story and A Song

    My Da and I both shared and expressed a deep passion for music and I am blessed for it today.

    I was tuned into music from a very young age and my earliest memories are hearing my dad play and…

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    Darkness Before Dawn

    My song 'Darkness Before Dawn' is inspired by the story of the Doran family and the harrowing events that occurred on the 7th of July 1921, in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, during the final days leading up to the Anglo-Irish truce…

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    Bring Me to Your Love

    This video was captured live in the moment at Pollardstown Fen in the Curragh by my wife Pam. My daughter joins me on BVs and also features in the video. It's rough and ready but there's a magic to it…

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    The Muddy River Band Rehearsals

    Here's a wee snippet of The Muddy River band working on an arrangement of Dylan's classic ‘’Not Dark Yet. We had just played a stompy, blues rock version, but decided to go for a more laid back and understated performance…

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    How I Found Bob Dylan

    There’s a bar in Dublin called Bruxelles and back in the glory days, it was a regular hangout for me. Upstairs was more of a lounge bar with live acts playing jazz or blues and food being served, but downstairs…

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    To Hold the Red Rose -International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist