John Carty

by James Christopher MongerBorn in London under the watchful eyes of Irish parents, fiddler John Carty has established himself among the elite in traditional music, and as a staunch supporter of its preservation. Carty developed his love for fiddle, banjo, and flute — all of which he has mastered — through his multi-instrumentalist father, who was a member of the Glenside in the 60s. At the age of 16, Carty found himself playing in sessions with some of Irish musics finest, and began to entertain the thought of relocating to Ireland. Soon after settling in Boyle, County Roscommon, Carty released his 1996 debut, Last Nights Fun, to positive reviews. In 1997 he joined At the Racket — a fun, loose, free-spirited dance band named after an old Flanagan Brothers 78 rpm — which put out a self-titled record in 1998. In 2000 he teamed up with guitarist Arty McGlynn and began work on his sophomore release, Yeh, Thats All It Is. His third record for Shanachie, At It Again, arrived in 2003.