Biography - Alan Bearman Music

Biography
Kan is a union of four of the finest, most influential, award-winning, in demand artists of
the 21 st century traditional music world.
Kan is one member of Lau, one member of Flook and two members of more bands than
even they can remember.
Kan is a unique melding of the bold and beautiful flute virtuosity of Brian Finnegan, from
Armagh in the North of Ireland, with the expressive and daring fiddle deftness of Aidan
OʼRourke, from Scotlandʼs Isle of Seil, cemented by the organic and intuitive drumming
of Harrogateʼs James Goodwin and the unfettered, playful guitar reinventions of Ian
Stephenson, out of Selby in Yorkshire.
Sleeper is the debut album from Kan, and the first fruits of the bandʼs intention to create
what they call “a homogenous quartet of lead instruments”, which emerged from the
musiciansʼ frequent past collaborations - both in their compositional and recorded work
and in less formal and more lubricated sessions.
The tunes on Sleeper have, as their backbone, Brian and Aidanʼs Irish and Scottish
traditions - focused on intricate, groove-entwined melodies whilst embracing Breton
dance, Asturian jigs and the influence of avant garde jazz pianist Nik Bärtsch, and Israeli
bassist Avishai Cohen.
On stage, Kan perform in an arc with no lead musician – “The drums are as important to
the melodic content as the fiddle”.
Thereʼs a mutual admiration bordering on fandom between the individual members of
Kan which makes them compelling and joyous to watch. When asked why he joined
Kan, Ian replied:
“There are probably dozens upon dozens of grown men who grew up listening to Flook
and Lau, harboring dreams of being in a band with Brian or Aidan one day. Well that's
me now. I'm chuffed to bits.”

See what we mean The level of experience and weight of achievement in this one
group becomes almost daunting when you try and list it.
Between them theyʼve recorded and performed with the likes of Kate Rusby, Cara Dillon,
BBC Philharmonic, Blazinʼ Fiddles, Liverpool Philharmonic, Kathryn Tickell, Northern
Sinfonia, Wayne Shorter, Eddi Reader, Justin Currie, Roddy Woomble, Baltic Crossing,
Adem, Sting (yes, really), OMD (yes, really), Jack Bruce (and again), Bella Hardy, Nitin
Sawhney, Katherine Jenkins, Jan Garbareck, Karine Polwart, Trilok Gurtu… and we
could go on.
But the most exciting thing about Kan is thereʼs never been a band like Kan before.
Kan (yellow seed)
The Tzolkin is the sacred moon calendar of the Mayan people that connects the energy
of heaven and earth, and 2010 was the year of Kan, a year according to the Mayan
oracle to be a time for new beginnings, for planting the seed of some intention, project or
dream, for taking a risk.
Kan:
Aidan O’Rourke Fiddles/Loops
Brian Finnegan Flutes/Whistles
Ian Stephenson Guitar/Bass
Jim Goodwin Drums/Percussion/ Wavedrum
Debut album ‘Sleeper’ (KanCD01) available now from Kan-music.co.uk
'A live wire of rhythm and melody - a tapestry of textures, there is magic in this'
SONGLINES
"Highly original" **** R2 (Rock N Reel Magazine)
"distinctive music - compelling in a live setting" Irish Times
''all four members shine, both separately and in unison - a spellbinding course through a
world of musical inspiration' FATEA