Bap Kennedy is an influential singer/songwriter from Belfast who was the lead singer and main songwriter of the legendary Belfast rock band Energy Orchard until the band broke up in the mid nineties. Energy Orchard toured America and Europe constantly in the late 1980’s and early nineties and Bap’s reputation as a gifted songwriter and a fearless front man was forged during these unforgettable performances.

The excellence of the band's live show was witnessed and praised by the likes of Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, various members of the Rolling Stones, and the Pogues, to name but a few. The hectic schedule eventually took its toll on the hard-living Energy Orchard boys and a farewell show at the Mean Fiddler in London on St Patrick's Day 1996 brought that chapter to a close.

Steve Earle produced Bap's first solo record, the critically aclaimed 'Domestic Blues.' With a stellar cast of Nashville musicians on board - plus vocal contributions from Nanci Griffiths – the album was a roaring success. Domestic Blues made number eight on the Billboard Americana chart and Kennedy emerged as a serious contender.

Four songs from the record appeared in two award winning movies 'You Can Count On Me' and 'Southie,' and on American network television soundtracks. More touring of the U.S.A. cemented the acclaim. Following in the footsteps of Earle, Bap set up his own Record Label ( Lonely Street Discs ) in London to release 'Domestic Blues' and the follow up album, 'Lonely Street.' 'Moonlight Kiss' - one of the stand out tracks from the Lonely Street album –featured in the John Cusack / Kate Beckinsale Miramax movie 'Serendipity'.

Bap's album entitled 'The Big Picture' ( 4 out of 5 stars - MOJO ) was recorded with the help of Van Morrison – a long standing friend and mentor. Van also co-wrote one of the songs on the album with Bap – a very rare thing indeed, and a measure of Bap's standing in the songwriting community. Shane Magowan appears on another of the songs and played several gigs with Bap and his band throughout 2004 as an unannounced special guest vocalist. Bap recently toured the U.S.A as special guest of Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits, who is now a convert to the Bap back catalogue.

Bap also takes part in the Belfast / Nashville Twin Cities Songwriting Festival and his music can be heard on the radio in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Quebec, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

Bap Kennedy is Married to Brenda whose son, Kenneth Hall, has Asperger's Syndrome and is the author of Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything.

http://www.bapkennedy.com/