Bringing soul to the city since 2009, Monaghan duo Niall Kirk & Pete Cadden are set to rock the decks at this year’s Dublin City Soul Festival. Together they are Amen Brother, a funkadelic DJ collaboration who specialise in soul and funk with a good dash of their own feel good factor thrown into the mix. I caught up with them recently to dig deeper into their unique musical world. First up – how did the guys get started? “We were asked to do a set for a friend’s 21st birthday party at a local club in Monaghan” explains Niall “It went down so well that the owner asked us to do a regular spot. It took off from there”. Amen Brother was born!
Long time friends who bonded through music, Niall & Pete joined forces and began collecting records together, bringing Amen Brother out on the road. “We like unusual finds and nuggets” says Niall “Sometimes picking up rarities online and chancing upon things in record shops” Putting their own spin on classics and rare grooves is the name of the game when the pair hit clubs like Karma. Influences include David Holmes, Andy Smith and DJ Food as well as old school Northern Soul-er Keb Darge. “We’ll throw some psychedelia, James Brown and Hendrix into the mix” says Niall “People like to hear something a bit different”.
Check out Amen Brother’s current top favourites for a flavour of what’s to come at Dublin City Soul Festival’s Roof Top BBQ Party in Solas Sunday 30th May
Pete’s Top Five
Willie West – Fairchild
Rasputin’s Stash – Mr. Cool
Ed Robinson – Face It
Al Green – Take Me To The River
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd St. Band – What Can You Bring Me
Niall’s Top Five
Muddy Waters – Tom Cat
Etta James – In The Basement
Robert Jay – Alcohol (Part 1)
Chris Clark – Loves Gone Bad
Ella Fitzgerald – Sunshine of Your Love
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