Kevin McKrell at The Eleven

remains a landmark of the form, with its blend of Clancy Brothers swagger and upstate NY attitude. McKrell honed his powerful performance style further in the 80s with The Fabulous Newports, a rambunctious harmony group known as much for its antics, cut-up comedy and long list of eventual members as for its sweet singing. In 1998, McKrell—who has three solo albums to his credit—formed a powerhouse band under his own name, merging the Irish sensibility of Donnybrook with a steely, world class bluegrass edge. The McKrells toured harder than Donnybrook, bringing its music, with McKrell’s lusty vocals supported by hot string band picking, to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and festivals and concert venues around the country. Offstage, McKrell, is a respected painter, with his work hanging in many of the halls he’s haunted, here and in Ireland, Scotland and Italy.He is best known, though, for his indelible songs—classics like “Home In Donegal,” “I Miss the Rain” and the eternal “All of The Hard Days Are Gone”—which, in addition to the raft of pub singers mentioned afore, have been sung and recorded by artists like The Kingston Trio, Bob Shane, Hair of the Dog, Wood’s Tea Company ,Get Up Jack, from Ireland The Furey Brothers, Seamus Kennedy ,The Druids, The Dublin City Ramblers from Scotland North Sea Gas, from Australia Pat McKernan. ‘McKrell is a masterful entertainer. He has played festival stages, clubs and concert halls around the globe, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Falconridge Folk Fest, The Milwaukee Irish Festival to name but a few. His originals have become folk staples throughout the English speaking world, and his wicked sense of humor is nearly as legendary as his songs.’ Caffe Lena Kevin McKrell entertained in wry blarney, sang Ould Sod sentiment in “Dublin Town” and “Home in Donegal” and, most impressively, crooned his original songs of John Prine-like insight and effortless musicality.