Bio
Roger Drawdy started singing at the age of 7 & began performing professionally at 14. Although he was heavily influenced by the traditional music of his west county Cork heritage it did not take long for him to wander off the beaten path. He started exploring various musical styles including classical, jazz, reggae, folk, & psychedelic rock. You can hear elements of all of these in his original music. Roger has lived & performed all over the world. Being a world traveler has given Roger many rich experiences & insight into the culture & folklore of the various places he's lived & played. Drawing upon these experiences Roger writes songs that express the feelings of isolation & oneness that we all share with the romantic hope of using music to bring people together from around the world in the spirit of peace & love.
Nominated TOP CELTIC ROCK GROUP 2010, 2011, & 2012 by the Irish Music Association, Irish Singer/Songwriter Roger Drawdy and his band the Firestarters play a mix of Traditional and original music with a distinctive sound. "Air punching acoustic rockers" is how Irish Music Magazine described The Firestarters' intensity. Thought provoking lyrics, haunting melodies, and thunderous live performances are the keys to their success. Roger Drawdy & the Firestarters formed in 2000 and have played in numerous venues throughout the US. Drawdy's prolific songwriting promises to take them to the top of the world/roots music scene. Before forming the Firestarters, Roger released two solo albums, "Longing for Home" and "Dance in the Heather." He gained international attention with the release of his track "For Erin's Sake" on the "Trees are Life" CD produced in Dublin, Ireland by the Earth Wisdom Foundation. Together with the Firestarters CD album release have included: "The "Emancipated Hostage" in 2000, "Touched by the Sun" in 2002, "Live Fire" in 2003, "Open Seas, Empty Skies" in 2005, "Hallowed Ground" in November 2007, "Pour Me Another One" in late August of 2010, & the NEW CD "Concentric Circles" has just been released. Look for another Rocking CD from the Firestarters in 2013.
Past Venues Include:
Savannah Irish Festival Savannah, GA
Dublin Irish Festival Dublin, OH
North Texas Irish Festival Dallas, TX
Dayton Celtic Festival Dayton, OH
Milford Music Festival Milford, PA
Painesville Party in the Park Painesville, OH
Irish Summer Fest Wildwood, NJ
AOH National Convention Cincinnati, OH
Louisville Irish Festival Louisville, KY
Ft. Wayne Highland Games Ft. Wayne, IN
Kentucky Celtic Fest Eminence, KY
Cincinnati Celtic Festival Cincinnati, OH
Notre Dame University South Bend, IN
Whitemarsh Concert Series Baltimore, MD
Ohio Irish Festival Cleveland, OH
Leopalooza Indianapolis, IN
Shamrock Club of Ohio Columbus, OH
Evening in Ireland Augusta, GA
Sunshine Concert Series Mason, OH
Middletown Music Festival Middletown, OH
IMAX Indy Museum Center Indianapolis, IN
Discography:
Longing for Home, released 1998
Dance in the Heather, released 2000
Emancipated Hostage, released 2001
Touched by the Sun, released 2001
Live Fire, released 2003
Open Seas, Empty Skies, released July 2005
Hallowed Ground, released November 2007
Pour Me Another One, released August 2010
Concentric Circles Released November 2012
Nominated TOP CELTIC ROCK GROUP 2010, 2011, & 2012 by the Irish Music Association, Irish Singer/Songwriter Roger Drawdy and his band the Firestarters play a mix of Traditional and original music with a distinctive sound. "Air punching acoustic rockers" is how Irish Music Magazine described The Firestarters' intensity. Thought provoking lyrics, haunting melodies, and thunderous live performances are the keys to their success. Roger Drawdy & the Firestarters formed in 2000 and have played in numerous venues throughout the US. Drawdy's prolific songwriting promises to take them to the top of the world/roots music scene. Before forming the Firestarters, Roger released two solo albums, "Longing for Home" and "Dance in the Heather." He gained international attention with the release of his track "For Erin's Sake" on the "Trees are Life" CD produced in Dublin, Ireland by the Earth Wisdom Foundation. Together with the Firestarters CD album release have included: "The "Emancipated Hostage" in 2000, "Touched by the Sun" in 2002, "Live Fire" in 2003, "Open Seas, Empty Skies" in 2005, "Hallowed Ground" in November 2007, "Pour Me Another One" in late August of 2010, & the NEW CD "Concentric Circles" has just been released. Look for another Rocking CD from the Firestarters in 2013.
Past Venues Include:
Savannah Irish Festival Savannah, GA
Dublin Irish Festival Dublin, OH
North Texas Irish Festival Dallas, TX
Dayton Celtic Festival Dayton, OH
Milford Music Festival Milford, PA
Painesville Party in the Park Painesville, OH
Irish Summer Fest Wildwood, NJ
AOH National Convention Cincinnati, OH
Louisville Irish Festival Louisville, KY
Ft. Wayne Highland Games Ft. Wayne, IN
Kentucky Celtic Fest Eminence, KY
Cincinnati Celtic Festival Cincinnati, OH
Notre Dame University South Bend, IN
Whitemarsh Concert Series Baltimore, MD
Ohio Irish Festival Cleveland, OH
Leopalooza Indianapolis, IN
Shamrock Club of Ohio Columbus, OH
Evening in Ireland Augusta, GA
Sunshine Concert Series Mason, OH
Middletown Music Festival Middletown, OH
IMAX Indy Museum Center Indianapolis, IN
Discography:
Longing for Home, released 1998
Dance in the Heather, released 2000
Emancipated Hostage, released 2001
Touched by the Sun, released 2001
Live Fire, released 2003
Open Seas, Empty Skies, released July 2005
Hallowed Ground, released November 2007
Pour Me Another One, released August 2010
Concentric Circles Released November 2012