I saw Bap Kennedy at Summertyne in Gateshead last year, playing a very enjoyable set with a splendid guitarist called Gordy McAllister. Bap seemed relaxed and happy, and had clearly been in the game long enough to have built a decent body of work and to know how to present it
I saw this BBC article today
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37262777
about how Brian Kennedy was undergoing treatment for rectal cancer but was expecting to recover. Towards the end of the article it says he had met up with his brother Bap, after years of estrangement, and that Bap was receiving palliative care after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I had a look at Bap’s website and his health blog is an inspiring read. It’s grim news though, as he can only be about 54. I hope his road goes easy for him
http://www.bapkennedy.com/health-blog
Jings, bad news indeed, that bastard pancreas is usually a swift harbinger of the end. He’s got a fine back-catalogue from Energy Orchard onward, well worth a punt.
Grim news all right.
He plays down here a bit – the catch is I think he might have broken some visa requirements at some stage coz he darts in does a few shows at pubs and before you know they are on he is gone.
Here is his blog from hospital
http://www.bapkennedy.com/health-blog
Bap’s blog entries over the past few months have been inspirationally upbeat and positive, and he always makes sure to thank the NHS / Macmillan / health-care professionals in general at every opportunity. He is also keenly aware of how much his music has meant to a lot of people over the years, and his wife Brenda is encouraging everyone who cares to email Bap and send him love, as well as share his compositions on social media.
I love the man, and Energy Orchard were one of the best live acts I was fortunate to see during my formative gig-going years in the late 80s and early 90s.