Allan's Biography
Performing
Allan Kirby began his performing career in the late 1950s, playing guitar in a rockabilly band during his high
school days. In the 1960s, he continued playing guitar at private social events and taught guitar in a music
store to finance his post-secondary education. In the 1970s Allan played rhythm guitar in a number of
dance bands and was a percussionist in the Cobourg Ontario Concert Band.
Throughout the 1980s, Allan worked as a pedal steel guitar player, playing and recording with several
country and country/rock ensembles. In 1986, he released his first guitar instrumental recording, which
received radio airplay nationwide. Allan also worked as a studio guitarist, playing on a number of
commercial recordings, radio advertisements, and a film soundtrack. From 1986 to 1991, he hosted a
popular weekly bluegrass radio show on Peterborough's 'Country 105' radio, where he also worked as a
part-time announcer and writer. From 1988 to 1993, Allan was part owner and assistant manager of
Musicland, a full-line music store in Peterborough, Ontario.
Allan played with several different bands in the 1990s including the Peterborough bands of Dennis O’Toole
and Washboard Hank Fisher. In 1994, Allan spent a year and a half traveling full-time with the country/rock
band Matchbox playing both guitar and pedal steel guitar. He took a break from performing in the late 1990s
to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Queen’s University.
In 2002, Allan joined the well-known bluegrass band McCormick as the banjo player. Along with his work
with McCormick, Allan plays banjo, and guitar with mandolinist/guitarist Jim Yates, in the folk/jazz duo, Kirby
and Yates. Since 2003 they have appeared throughout Ontario at festivals and concerts and have opened
for well-known entertainers Valdy and Fred Eaglesmith.
Kirby and Yates released their well-reviewed CD, Sittn’ in the Kitchen, in the summer of 2005. Allan
released his first solo CD in November of 2006. In 2007, Allan collaborated with playwright Janet Kellough
and fiddler David “Zeke” Mazurek to create the folk musical “Fowke Tales”. This theatrical production told
the story of folk-song collector/scholar Edith Fowke and her relationship with the singers and musicians of
Peterborough County. The production premiered in September 2007 with six performances at The Trade
Barn Theatre at Lang Pioneer Village. “Fowke Tales” attracted sell-out crowds and positive reviews.
Allan’s performing schedule has included appearances at venues such as Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio
Theatre, Belleville Ontario’s Empire Theatre, The Regent Theatre in Picton, Ontario, The River Valley
Bluegrass Festival, The Palmer Rapids Bluegrass Festival, The Shelter Valley Folk Festival, The
Peterborough Folk Festival, The Academy Theatre in Lindsay, Victoria Hall in Cobourg, The Fred
Eaglesmith Invitational Picnic, and The Old Church in St. Thomas.
Education and Teaching
Allan has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Queen's University and a Masters degree in Adult
Education from St. Francis Xavier University. He is currently a PhD student at Carleton University’s School of
Canadian Studies, concentrating on the history of traditional music in Canada.
Allan has guest lectured, on the topic of traditional music history, at Queen's University (1998, 1999, 2001)
and Carleton University (2002, 2003). In 1998, he spoke about the life and work of folk-song collector Edith
Fowke, at the annual conference of the Canadian Society for traditional music at the University of Winnipeg.
In 2000, at a joint meeting of the Canadian Society for Traditional Music and the Society for American Music
in Toronto, Allan presented a paper on Edith Fowke and her influence on traditional music in eastern
Ontario. At the University of Western Ontario in 2003, he gave a paper on researching and archiving
Canadian musical artifacts, based on the work he had done with Carleton University’s collection of folk
music material that was bequeathed to the school by the folksinger and CBC music broadcaster Thomas
Kines.
Allan has taught guitar on an individual and group basis since 1964. He facilitates weeklong music
workshops in both banjo and guitar. His workshops, which are often sold-out, provide students
knowledgeable hands-on instrumental instruction as well as insights into Canada’s music history. Allan’s
workshops are regularly scheduled for Loyalist College and Lang Pioneer Village.
Writing, Speaking, and Awards
In 1998, Allan had a major article published in the 1998 Canadian Journal for Traditional Music. The article,
titled “What Ordinary People Do Is Important” Edith Fowke’s Work and Publications, provided scholars with
one of the first detailed biographies of the well-know Canadian folk-song collector. In 2002, Allan authored
a second article detailing the work of Edith Fowke in the Peterborough County area, which was published in
the spring edition of the Canadian Folk Music Bulletin. Allan contributed for a second time to the Canadian
Journal for Traditional Music with his 2002 review of the book Community Music in Alberta by George W.
Lyon. Allan has also continued to contribute CD reviews, book reviews, and feature articles to the Canadian
Folk Music Bulletin.
Allan speaks regularly at libraries, historical societies, schools and luncheons on the topic of Ontario
traditional music history. He makes history come alive because his talks are always complemented with
musical performance.
In September of 2005, the bluegrass band McCormick that Allan plays banjo with was one of the nominees
for Most Promising Band of the year at The Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.
In June of 2006, Allan received an award of recognition from The County of Peterborough for his leadership
in the arts community; specifically his efforts in researching, writing and speaking about the county’s rich
musical history.
Allan Kirby began his performing career in the late 1950s, playing guitar in a rockabilly band during his high
school days. In the 1960s, he continued playing guitar at private social events and taught guitar in a music
store to finance his post-secondary education. In the 1970s Allan played rhythm guitar in a number of
dance bands and was a percussionist in the Cobourg Ontario Concert Band.
Throughout the 1980s, Allan worked as a pedal steel guitar player, playing and recording with several
country and country/rock ensembles. In 1986, he released his first guitar instrumental recording, which
received radio airplay nationwide. Allan also worked as a studio guitarist, playing on a number of
commercial recordings, radio advertisements, and a film soundtrack. From 1986 to 1991, he hosted a
popular weekly bluegrass radio show on Peterborough's 'Country 105' radio, where he also worked as a
part-time announcer and writer. From 1988 to 1993, Allan was part owner and assistant manager of
Musicland, a full-line music store in Peterborough, Ontario.
Allan played with several different bands in the 1990s including the Peterborough bands of Dennis O’Toole
and Washboard Hank Fisher. In 1994, Allan spent a year and a half traveling full-time with the country/rock
band Matchbox playing both guitar and pedal steel guitar. He took a break from performing in the late 1990s
to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Queen’s University.
In 2002, Allan joined the well-known bluegrass band McCormick as the banjo player. Along with his work
with McCormick, Allan plays banjo, and guitar with mandolinist/guitarist Jim Yates, in the folk/jazz duo, Kirby
and Yates. Since 2003 they have appeared throughout Ontario at festivals and concerts and have opened
for well-known entertainers Valdy and Fred Eaglesmith.
Kirby and Yates released their well-reviewed CD, Sittn’ in the Kitchen, in the summer of 2005. Allan
released his first solo CD in November of 2006. In 2007, Allan collaborated with playwright Janet Kellough
and fiddler David “Zeke” Mazurek to create the folk musical “Fowke Tales”. This theatrical production told
the story of folk-song collector/scholar Edith Fowke and her relationship with the singers and musicians of
Peterborough County. The production premiered in September 2007 with six performances at The Trade
Barn Theatre at Lang Pioneer Village. “Fowke Tales” attracted sell-out crowds and positive reviews.
Allan’s performing schedule has included appearances at venues such as Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio
Theatre, Belleville Ontario’s Empire Theatre, The Regent Theatre in Picton, Ontario, The River Valley
Bluegrass Festival, The Palmer Rapids Bluegrass Festival, The Shelter Valley Folk Festival, The
Peterborough Folk Festival, The Academy Theatre in Lindsay, Victoria Hall in Cobourg, The Fred
Eaglesmith Invitational Picnic, and The Old Church in St. Thomas.
Education and Teaching
Allan has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Queen's University and a Masters degree in Adult
Education from St. Francis Xavier University. He is currently a PhD student at Carleton University’s School of
Canadian Studies, concentrating on the history of traditional music in Canada.
Allan has guest lectured, on the topic of traditional music history, at Queen's University (1998, 1999, 2001)
and Carleton University (2002, 2003). In 1998, he spoke about the life and work of folk-song collector Edith
Fowke, at the annual conference of the Canadian Society for traditional music at the University of Winnipeg.
In 2000, at a joint meeting of the Canadian Society for Traditional Music and the Society for American Music
in Toronto, Allan presented a paper on Edith Fowke and her influence on traditional music in eastern
Ontario. At the University of Western Ontario in 2003, he gave a paper on researching and archiving
Canadian musical artifacts, based on the work he had done with Carleton University’s collection of folk
music material that was bequeathed to the school by the folksinger and CBC music broadcaster Thomas
Kines.
Allan has taught guitar on an individual and group basis since 1964. He facilitates weeklong music
workshops in both banjo and guitar. His workshops, which are often sold-out, provide students
knowledgeable hands-on instrumental instruction as well as insights into Canada’s music history. Allan’s
workshops are regularly scheduled for Loyalist College and Lang Pioneer Village.
Writing, Speaking, and Awards
In 1998, Allan had a major article published in the 1998 Canadian Journal for Traditional Music. The article,
titled “What Ordinary People Do Is Important” Edith Fowke’s Work and Publications, provided scholars with
one of the first detailed biographies of the well-know Canadian folk-song collector. In 2002, Allan authored
a second article detailing the work of Edith Fowke in the Peterborough County area, which was published in
the spring edition of the Canadian Folk Music Bulletin. Allan contributed for a second time to the Canadian
Journal for Traditional Music with his 2002 review of the book Community Music in Alberta by George W.
Lyon. Allan has also continued to contribute CD reviews, book reviews, and feature articles to the Canadian
Folk Music Bulletin.
Allan speaks regularly at libraries, historical societies, schools and luncheons on the topic of Ontario
traditional music history. He makes history come alive because his talks are always complemented with
musical performance.
In September of 2005, the bluegrass band McCormick that Allan plays banjo with was one of the nominees
for Most Promising Band of the year at The Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards.
In June of 2006, Allan received an award of recognition from The County of Peterborough for his leadership
in the arts community; specifically his efforts in researching, writing and speaking about the county’s rich
musical history.
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