At a Glance
- Members
- Nathan Gourley (fiddle), Joey Abarta (uilleann pipes), Owen Marshall (bouzouki, guitar)
- Genre
- Traditional Irish Music
- Based In
- Boston, MA
- Albums
- Copley Street 2 (2025), Copley Street (2016)
- Website
- copleystreet.com
- Spotify
- Copley Street 2 · Copley Street
- Contact
- Email us
Short Bio
Copley Street is a Boston-based trio of Nathan Gourley (fiddle), Joey Abarta (uilleann pipes), and Owen Marshall (bouzouki, guitar), performing traditional Irish music with deep chemistry and a warm, richly textured sound. Their two albums have been widely praised by folk and traditional music press on both sides of the Atlantic.
Full Biography
Nathan Gourley, Joey Abarta, & Owen Marshall are three of the finest traditional musicians in the U.S., bringing together fiddle, uilleann pipes, bouzouki, and guitar in a beautifully expressive and masterfully crafted sound. Their latest album, Copley Street 2, builds on the success of their acclaimed 2016 release, weaving together intricate tunes with deep musical chemistry and a warm, rich tonal blend.
Gourley, known for his work with Laura Feddersen (Brightly or Darkly), The Truckley Howl, Paddy O’Brien, and Dáithí Sproule, is a highly regarded fiddler with a distinct and lyrical style. Abarta, an All-Ireland champion piper, has toured with The Green Fields of America and performed for President Michael D. Higgins, carving out a reputation as one of the finest pipers of his generation. Marshall has toured and recorded with the likes of Seamus Egan, Liz Carroll, Dervish, and Jenna Moynihan, and has emerged as one of the foremost accompanists of traditional music.
Their music is a celebration of tradition, honed through years of collaboration and live performance. With Copley Street 2, they deliver an album full of lift, nuance, and sheer musical joy—an essential listen for fans of Irish traditional music.
Members
Nathan Gourley - Fiddle
Nathan Gourley is a Boston-based fiddler known for expressive, deeply rooted playing in the Irish tradition. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, he began playing fiddle at age five and developed a distinctive style through years of immersion in the music, including formative collaborations with Paddy O’Brien and Dáithí Sproule. He has recorded and toured extensively, with albums including Brightly or Darkly with Laura Feddersen, The Truckley Howl with John Blake and Mairéad Hurley, and Ship in the Clouds with Anna Colliton and Natasha Sheehy. He is a sought-after teacher at festivals and workshops across North America and Europe.
Joey Abarta - Uilleann Pipes
Originally from Southern California and now based in Boston, Joey Abarta is one of the foremost uilleann pipers in the United States. He took second place at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2009 and first prize at An tOireachtas in 2014, becoming the first American piper to do so since 1969. He has toured with Mick Moloney’s Green Fields of America, and in 2018 was invited by Na Píobairí Uilleann to perform for President Michael D. Higgins at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin as part of UNESCO’s recognition of uilleann piping as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Owen Marshall - Bouzouki & Guitar
Over the past two decades, multi-instrumentalist Owen Marshall has emerged as one of the foremost accompanists of traditional music. Known for his fluid and spontaneous bouzouki work and driving and melodic guitar accompaniment, Owen has toured and recorded on over 30 albums with the likes of the Seamus Egan Project, Dervish, Liz Carroll, Riptide, Pine Tree Flyers, Jenna Moynihan, The Press Gang, Wooden Nickels, Haas, Marshall and Walsh, and a Christmas Celtic Sojourn.
Press
“All three of these musicians are masters of their respective instruments…they blend their instruments seamlessly throughout the recording, which makes for a sweet sound.”Richard Gee, FolkWorks (2025)
“They’re not redefining the music, they’re just playing it really really well and with such focus that it brings the tunes into new light. Marvelous album.”Devon Léger, KITHFOLK (2025)
“The music here is even more beautifully executed and a joy to listen to.”Daniel Neely, Irish Echo (2025)
“Crisp and energetic but disciplined playing, and just plain good tunes.”Sean Smith, Boston Irish (2025)
“A great album that represents a promising future for traditional music in America.”James Motteram, Bright Young Folk (2016)
“Gourley and Abarta are in breathtaking sync.”Sean Smith, Boston Irish (2025)
Discography
Copley Street 2
16 tracks. Recorded and mixed by Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studios. Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works Mastering. Cover art by Katherine Fahey.
Copley Street
16 tracks. Recorded and mixed by Dan Cardinal at Dimension Sound Studios. Mastered by Jonathan Wyner at M Works Mastering. Cover art by Katherine Fahey.
Technical Requirements
- 3 armless chairs, center-stage
- 3 vocal mics on stands
- 3 XLR lines with phantom power (+48V) for clip-on mics (provided by band)
- All three performers are seated for the full set
Press Photos
Click to download high-resolution images for print or web use.
