John Gilligan

Influences: The Irish Brigade, The WolfeTones, The Prodigals, Old Blind Dogs, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Steely Dan

John was born and raised in central New York state. His love of music began at an early age. He was often exposed to jazz through his father's collection of greats such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Stan Getz. John was given his first guitar at age twelve and has been playing ever since. After playing in several rock, heavy metal and punk groups, he began playing Irish rebel music after being influenced by local Irish icon Vince Colgan, and Trenton, NJ musician, Billy Briggs. It wasn't long before he began playing Irish rebel music at festivals, pubs, and venues throughout the northeast US and Ireland.

John met up with Andrew Gracey in the fall of 1999 and they soon began playing shows together. It wasn't long after that they met Paddy Blush and started performing as "Starry Plough." When Andrew and Paddy began the formation of Cliudan, John went off on his own continuing his original brand of Irish rebel tunes and in the spring of 2006 released his debut cd "Green Plastic Derby."

Just before Green Plastic Derby's release John was asked to sit in and play some shows on percussion with Cliudan and has been a fixture in the group since then. John plays on Cliudan's fifth, and latest cd "Smoke and Strong Whiskey."