Kevin Brennan

Kevin Brennan

BIO

Brennan’s music is strongly influenced by his background and upbringing. His Irish father Michael was born in West Cork and his mother Beryl is a miner’s daughter from Nantyglo in the South Wales valleys.  The Brennan home in Cwmbran was full of music from both traditions, and he and his sister Nuala were regular performers at folk clubs across South Wales. Later, whilst working as a teacher in Cardiff, Brennan was also a member of Welsh folk dance band Cadlan - a regular feature of twmpath and ceilidh dances across South and West Wales in the 1980s.

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Brennan’s passion for fairness and justice led him into a career in politics. In 2001 he was elected to parliament as the Labour MP for Cardiff West, often specialising in issues relating to culture in general, and the music industry in particular.  In parliament he combined with 3 other musician/politicians, including the SNP’s Pete Wishart formerly of Scottish folk/rock legends Runrig, to form MP4.  The band have helped raise over £1m for charity and have recorded an album, 2 Eps, and a charity single as a tribute to the late Jo Cox featuring KT Tunstall, David Gray, Rickie Wilson and Steve Harley, with Robin Millar producing.

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More recently during lockdown Brennan supported acclaimed singer songwriter John Smith in an online gig with solo versions of songs from his forthcoming album.