Formed in 1998 out of the Irish Country Band Wilderness. 1916 were to change direction and to concentrate on the true music of the Republic, Whilst playing the songs of the Pogues,Wolftones, Clancy Brothers and Dubliners. 1916 started to write their own material about the many troubles of both the historic side of Ireland as well as the more modern troubles. The main lineup of 1916 was to be Kenn Gordon (Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo, Keyboards, Mandola, Bass, Percussion & Lead Vocals) Anita Gordon (Keyboards & Backing Vocals) Yjan Gordon (Penny Whistle, Flute & Backing Vocals, Lachlan Gordon (Fiddle, Keyboards & Backing Vocals) Mike Malik (Bass & Backing Vocals) Billy J (Guitar, Banjo, Vocals) Jim Crowston (Keyboards, Bass, Guitar & Vocals) Logan Alexander (Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion & Vocals) James Murray (Guitar & Vocals) Mark Coleshaw (Keyboards)
Whilst it might at first glance seem like a lot of folks for a folk band many of the musicians were what could be described as "Floating Members" some of them had their own musical ventures to follow and some just fitted in between their regular work not wanting to follow the risky path of making a full time living from music. At the start of 1916 Kenn was also Broadcasting on one of the internets first radio stations through the "Paltalk" platform a regular show was "Voices Of Resistance" which he also used to keep contact with and pass messages on to the "OTR's" (On the run men & women of various wings of the Irish Republican movements) The band wound up its touring in 2011 when Kenn suffered several heart attacks and retired from playing publically. Kenn did however continue to write and produce Irish and Country music along with many other genre's Most of the albums made after 2011 were pure instrumental. Kenn Still writes music for others to play and most recently he worked with the acclaimed Scottish Rebel singer "Jim McLean"  reproducing the music of his original songs. As far as the original songs of 1916, the lyrics of most, though not entirely, were written by Mark Coleshaw and the music written by Kenn Gordon, along with Jim Crowstone. A long time before the Bloody Sundy Enquiry was completed 1916 was already naming names and the same appled to "The Ballad of Pat Finucane where "Ken Barret" was named as the murderer by 1916, even bofore any person was named by the authorities. One of the people who supplied sensitive and often compelling information to Kenn and was co-host of "Voices Of Resitance" was "Ania  Cavanagh" (Sadly now deceased) All the original songs of 1916 are based on FACT rather than emotion. Another great source for information on "The Troubles" was "Finn Amadam" who along with his sister "Hals" provided detailed information that was used in the Radio Broadcasts as well as in the content of many of the original  songs  of 1916. There are too many people that helped with "Voices of Resistance some who just went by nondeplumes, such as "Mac Talla" Most of 1916's songs can be found at www.kenngordon.com Throughout 1916 touring days they kept the same sound and lighting engineer Sarah Chetwood. Taught by Kenn to handle the bands massive 64 Channel Mixing consol and their 24 channel foldback system along with a full Martin lighting rig. Kenn could be described as "Anal" about the sound and the show. So the fact that he trusted Sarah to wire up their PA Rig was a testament to her skill. Its rare that Roadies/Sound Engineers get mentioned but to know where a 24 and 64 gang snake goes and dozens of on stage cables to amp and microphones is a true skill. Without Sarah 1916 would probably have not have the powerful sound that filled the smallest to the biggest of venues.