The late John Doonan formed the DFB some 30 years ago with sons Mick and Kevin. They quickly established themselves on the musical circuits playing a full repertoire of Irish tunes, the majority passed down from John’s father, who was himself a renowned fiddler. Shortly after the band started, John, Michael and Kevin were joined by Phil and Stu, who added another dimension to the group with their driving and powerful guitar work. John then introduced another inspired element to the band in the form of Irish dancers (now John’s granddaughters Sarah and Frances), whose performances include dynamic and formal step dances as well as routines integrated into song arrangements. The band cleverly uses the wide range of instruments (piccolo, flute, pipes, fiddle, guitar and acoustic bass guitar) to interpret not only traditional folk tunes, but other musical genres. As well as the unique and expert blend of musicianship, the bands secret weapon is their ability to communicate and engage with any audience anywhere. Their shows can be unpredictable but are always uncompromisingly entertaining.
