This long-standing collaboration between Irish fiddler Gerry O’Connor and Breton guitarist Gilles le Bigot brings together two musical traditions through live performance, shared repertoire, and a deep mutual understanding developed over many years on stage.
A Meeting of Two Musical Worlds
When I first began working with
Gilles le Bigot,
it was immediately clear that this was a meeting of two distinct musical voices that could speak fluently together.
Irish fiddle music and Breton guitar accompaniment come from different traditions, but both are rooted in dance, rhythm, and a strong sense of place.
Our concerts grew from that shared ground. Rather than one instrument leading and the other following, the music moves through constant exchange.
Tunes are shaped and reshaped in the moment, guided by listening rather than by fixed arrangement.
Critical Response
Over the years, this duo work has drawn a strong response from critics.
David Kidman described the partnership as two brilliant musicians from very different disciplines sharing their talents in music full of passion, fire, and energy.
Paul Burgess, writing in The Living Tradition, went further, describing the recording as one of the great records of fiddle music,
noting how the interplay between fiddle and guitar remained compelling long after repeated listening.
Geoff Wallis highlighted the balance between drive and restraint, noting how Gilles’ accompaniment provides rhythmic strength while leaving space for the fiddle to explore melodic intensity,
particularly on tunes such as “Dónal Dubh” and “Bonny Anne”.
Live Performance and Musical Trust
Much of the strength of this collaboration comes through most clearly in live performance.
Years of playing together have created a kind of musical shorthand.
A glance, a nod, or a slight shift in phrasing is enough to change direction within a tune or set.
That responsiveness allows the music to remain fluid.
Reels can surge forward and then settle back, jigs can lift and release, and airs can stretch without losing focus.
The audience hears not just the notes, but the relationship between the players.
International Stages
This duo work has been presented widely, including headline performances at festivals and concert halls across Europe and beyond.
One particularly memorable appearance was at the Brunswick Music Festival in Australia, where the concert formed part of a tribute to the late Louis McManus.
In that setting, the contrast between stillness and intensity was striking.
While I remain physically still when I play, the music itself carries weight, movement, and colour, supported by Gilles’ rich guitar sound and open tuning approach.
The Album In Concert
Our live duo album, In Concert, was recorded in front of an audience and captures the immediacy that defines this partnership.
The recording features jigs, reels, hornpipes, waltzes, and slow airs, all played in extended sets that allow the music to unfold naturally.
Reviewers repeatedly remarked on the clarity of the recording and the rare sense of ease it captures.
The album documents not just repertoire, but the empathy and trust that can only develop through years of shared performance.
Background and Musical Roots
I come from Dundalk, County Louth, and from four generations of fiddle players.
My playing draws heavily on music learned within my family, from local manuscripts, and from musicians such as Joe Gardiner.
Over the years, I have performed and recorded with many leading figures in Irish traditional music, and have remained closely connected to regional repertoire.
Gilles originates from Saint-Brieuc in Brittany.
Entirely self-taught, he developed his guitar style through open tunings that are now widely associated with Breton and Celtic accompaniment.
His work with groups such as Skolvan and Barzaz, as well as collaborations across Ireland and Brittany, has had a lasting influence on traditional guitar playing.
Workshops and Teaching
Alongside performance, this collaboration has often been accompanied by workshops.
My fiddle workshops focus on bowing patterns, articulation, and learning by ear, with an emphasis on how bowing shapes melody and rhythm.
Gilles’ guitar workshops explore open tuning, rhythm, harmony, and accompaniment approaches in Breton and Irish music.
Both workshops are aimed at intermediate players who are open to careful listening and observation.
A Personal Reflection
Working with Gilles le Bigot over so many years has been one of the most rewarding musical relationships of my life.
It is a collaboration built on respect, shared curiosity, and the belief that live music carries something that recordings alone cannot.
When two musicians listen closely enough, the music finds its own direction.
That is what this duo continues to explore, each time we step on stage together.
Listen and Download
The live duo album Live in Oriel captures the energy, trust, and musical conversation that develops between fiddle and guitar in a concert setting.
The recording reflects how this music is meant to be heard, in the moment, shaped by interaction and audience presence.
The album is available as streaming and download in high quality formats.
Every purchase directly supports the musicians and the continuation of live traditional music.