Brendan Power

Brendan Power

Brendan Power is a harmonica player, folk musician, composer and inventor who lives in Britain. He is born in Kenya and his family moves to New Zealand in 1965. He is associated with harmonica, folk and Celtic music, and is known for technical playing on the instrument.

Recording work and collaborations

Power records as a solo artist and under several partnerships, including Power & Kilkelly, Prosser, Power & Randall, Tim Edey & Brendan Power, Brendan Power & Tim Edey, and Brendan Power & Michael Lempelius. His duo with Tim Edey receives Best Duo at the 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He also records with a number of Irish artists, including Altan, Arcady, Mary Black, Paul Brady, Dónal Lunny and Arty McGlynn.

Harmonica innovations

Power creates several new harmonica tunings and introduces new harmonica types. In 1980 he invents the idea of Half-Valving, and with Will Scarlett he co-invents the extra-reed concept, which is designed to increase pitch-bending ability on harmonicas.

Session and soundtrack work

He records harmonica on Sting’s Ten Summoner’s Tales, Andy Irvine’s Way Out Yonder and Kate Bush’s Director’s Cut. His work also appears on film soundtracks, including Atonement and Shanghai Noon.

Label association

Power is associated with Audio Network.