David Keenan (musician)

Keenan began playing music when he found a Hohner guitar belonging to his uncle in a wardrobe in his grandmother's spare room as a child.[2] Early inspirations began when his mother took him across the border to the Ulster Folk Museum in Northern Ireland when he was nine.[3]

David Keenan in the St Georg Church at Haldern Pop Festival 2019.

When Keenan was 17 years old, he left his hometown of Dundalk to go to Liverpool and spent his time busking to pay for his hostel in Edge Hill.[4] When he returned to Ireland, he began sending out demos of his songs. Keenan went viral when a video of him playing his song "El Paso" in a taxi driver's car was circulated online.[5] He has since supported Mick Flannery and went on tour with Damien Dempsey.

Keenan released four EPs on his own label, Barrack Street Records, named after a place in his hometown Dundalk, including Cobwebs, Strip Me Bare, Strip Me Bare Vol. 2, and Evidence of Living. In September 2019, David signed to Rubyworks Records in Ireland.[6] Later that same year, he would tour with fellow Rubyworks Records artist Hozier on both a European and an American tour.[7]

Keenan recorded his debut album, A Beginner's Guide to Bravery, in Hellfire Studios on the outskirts of Dublin over the course of seven days.[8] It was released on January 10, 2020 debuting at number 1 in the Irish Independent Albums Charts.[9] A Beginner's Guide to Bravery became the biggest selling vinyl album during its week of release.[10] Keenan's debut was described as "a remarkable record" by NPR,[11] "Thrilling" by Sunday Times and "A marvellous album, and a labour of love" by The Irish Independent. Keenan played a sold out Olympia Theatre in Dublin the week of the album release.[12]

Keenan announced his second album, WHAT THEN?, set to release on October 15, 2021.[13] The first single from this album, "Bark", was released on June 10, 2021,[14] followed by "Sentimental Dole" on July 16,[15] "What Then Cried Jo Soap" on August 19 of the same year.[16] To promote the album, Keenan toured the United States with Rodrigo y Gabriela in September 2021.[17]