Alec Finn

Alec Finn is an English-born Irish traditional musician. He is best known for founding De Dannan with Frankie Gavin, Ringo MacDonogh and Charlie Piggott after a series of music sessions at Tigh Hughes, An Spidéal, Co. Galway in 1975. He was introduced to the bouzouki by Johnny Moynihan, but in distinct contrast to the vast majority of Irish players, he plays a round-backed Greek bouzouki, one of the older style trixordo three course (six string) instruments tuned DAD. The Greek tuning gives him a modal rhythmic background of immense versatility on which to weave his own highly personal counterpoint to the melody. In the late 1970s and early 80s, he accompanied several prominent Irish instrumentalists including Frankie Gavin,Mary Bergin and Noel Hill. He performed with De Dannan up to its dissolution in 2003.  

Alec Finn enjoyed critical acclaim with his debut solo album Blue Shamrock and since then has collaborated on albums with Kevin MacLeod, Kathleen Loughnane, and John Carty. The fact that he plays many stringed instruments such as bouzouki, mandolin, and the guitar adds a tender touch to many recordings. The Greek bouzouki was first introduced to Irish music by Johnny Moynihan in the 1960s but has developed through the playing of virtuosos such as Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, and Alec Finn.