HOLLYWOOD ACTOR Kevin Bacon has opened up about his newfound passion for Irish music.
Speaking during an appearance on the Late Late Show in Ireland, the 62-year-old revealed he has even written a song on bodhrán about a giant squid.
The Footloose star, who performs as one half of The Bacon Brothers alongside his sibling Michael, also extolled the virtues of Irish trad, telling Ryan Tubridy it has "a certain edge that’s hard to put your finger on".
"It’s got a rocking edge that I find really, really compelling. I’m a percussionist, I play hand drums in my band, and my brother got me a bodhrán a few year ago," Bacon said.
"I’m not good at it, it’s a real skill that I don’t really have. I wrote a song about a giant squid and once the band got together and started playing it, it ended up having a very Irish feel and I ended up playing bodhrán on that song."
Bacon also revealed to Tubridy and everyone watching on at home across Ireland that he’s a big fan of The Chieftains.
"I love how melodic it is but there's also a certain edge to Irish music that is hard to put your finger on"@kevinbacon talks music and Ryan promises to set him up with @christymoore45 as his new teacher!#LateLate pic.twitter.com/rDB6Zho3Ir
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) October 9, 2020
Even better still, he’s already planning a visit to Ireland, with Kevin taking up an invite from Tubridy for the Bacon Brothers to appear on the show, once the pandemic is over.
"That’s sounds great," the actor said. "I’d like to come over and get lessons, frankly. That would be the best idea. Find somebody who is the most badass player and have him sit down with me and take me to school."
Tubridy had the perfect recommendation for Bacon too.
"His name is Christy Moore, write his name down and get busy on YouTube,” the Late Late Show host said.
“He’s a legend here so we’ll try and get the two of you here in a year’s time or thereabouts."
Any visit would also give Bacon, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, a chance to explore his family’s distant Irish roots.
