Pat Broaders
Born in Dublin of parents from Wexford, Pat began playing traditional Irish music at the age of 12. He attended the Chatham Street School of Music where he began on the whistle and later moved to the uilleann pipes under the tutelage of the world renowned uilleann piper, Leon Rowsome. He also studied pipes with Tommy Reck and was influenced by pipers Liam OFlynn, Willie Clancy, and Matt Kiernan. In 1998, Pat began playing the bouzouki and studied briefly with Donal Lunny. While in Ireland, Pat began singing and was a member of the group, An Beal Bocht, which toured Europe with the Chieftains. Pat also played and sang with the Irish rock bands, In Tua Nua and Cry Before Dawn, and with the International Blues Band. In addition, he has played with The Wilf Brothers, with whom he appeared on the RTE television program, "Night Hawks."
In 1990, Pat moved to Massachusetts, where he performed with various groups in the Boston area. He relocated to Chicago in 1991 and has been actively involved in the Irish music community ever since. He teaches uilleann pipes, performs regularly in the group Moore & Broaders, and is a part of the touring company of the Trinity Irish Dance Company. When he is not performing, Pat operates Pipedream Studio, where the majority of Aengus' first recording took place. He has performed on numerous national commercials and jingles in the U.S. and Ireland.
Since moving to Chicago, Pat has performed and recorded with a variety of musicians and groups, including Dennis Cahill, Liz Carroll, Sean Cleland, Kat Eggleston, Martin Hayes, Larry Nugent, Paddy O' Brien, Robbie O’Connell, John Williams, and The Drovers. He is best known as the bouzouki player/singer of Bohola with piano accordionist Jimmy Keane.
In Jimmy's words: “Pat is a real veteran of the Irish music scene both here and abroad, playing, recording, and performing with many artists and bands over the years. Pat has this acute sense of music and rhythm that enables him to “lock in” his dordan (bass bouzouki) playing to whatever I might do musically and rhythmically. The synergy that results spurs on Bohola and draws in the audience. And his singing is brilliant – if I could sing, I’d love to sing like Pat.”