Patrick Fagan
Singer | Songwriter | Musician
From the peaceful tone of “Dandelion Wine” to the off-balance energy of “Welcome To My Existential Crisis,” the record moves between calm and chaos, always grounded in humor and hope.
Some songs grew out of years of playing blues with Electric Lemon. Others were sparked by conversations about pollinators, escapism, and the odd beauty of writing a waltz in five. At its core, this album reflects a willingness to follow an idea wherever it leads, and an open invitation to listen, laugh, and maybe even bark or howl along.
This project is meaningful to me as my first full-length album. Much gratitude goes to Dave Taylor at Cool Brick Studios for capturing all of the musicians who brought these songs to fruition; Marc Bruell and Kendall Spyker on guitars, Dan Rosenthal and Chad Patrick on drums, Ashton Taufer on bass, Chance Davis on saxophones, Dustin Lutomski and Dave Poulsen on trumpet and George Laks on keyboards.
If you’d like to hear more, you can download a track by joining my mailing list below, or purchase a physical copy of Waltz For Dogs.
I grew up in New Hampshire and upstate New York in a house where music was part of everyday life. My parents both played piano and sang, and my four older siblings all played instruments, including Mary Fagan. When I was six, I began taking piano lessons and I’ve been at it ever since.
In 1991, I moved to Colorado to for graduate school, but it did not take long for the mountains to feel like home. In 1992, I moved to Breckenridge planning to teach skiing for a year. More than three decades later, I am still teaching skiing and still playing music. I guess I took the advice to do what makes you happy and stuck with it.
In 2009, I moved to Carbondale to teach skiing at Snowmass, after being encouraged by friends who saw the creative energy building in the Roaring Fork Valley. Looking back, it was the best decision I could have made and am so grateful to be part of this vibrant artistic community, including Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Aspen Music Festival, Theatre Aspen and more.
As a musician, I’ve been influenced by a wide range of music over the years, from Bach and Mozart to Thelonious Monk, John Prine, and The Band. I’ve always listened broadly. At the same time, some of my best inspiration comes from being outside. Spending time in the mountains, or looking through a telescope at Jupiter’s moons on a clear night, has a way of reminding me how big the world is around us and how small we are, and yet how relevant we are. That perspective is something I try to bring into my music.
I have had the pleasure of performing at venues throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond. I enjoy playing in listening rooms and house concerts where there is space to connect with the audience, and I also love the energy of bars, restaurants, and community gatherings. At the end of the day, I am simply grateful to share music with the people around me.
I’m based in Carbondale and perform throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond, both as a solo artist and in collaboration with other musicians.
I regularly perform as part of the Bruell Fagan Duo with Marc Bruell, and I’ve played in the blues band Electric Lemon. During Oktoberfest season, I travel across Colorado with Those Austrian Guys. When I’m back east, I join the Honk Family Band for street festivals in Boston and New York.
Interested in bringing live music to your event or venue?
Whether you’re planning an intimate house concert or a larger community gathering, I’d love to be part of it.
Please use the form below to share the details and start the conversation.
Events & Venues
• Listening rooms
• House concerts
• Private events
• Community events
• Festivals
• Bar and restaurant performances
If you’d like updates on upcoming performances and new recordings, you can join my mailing list below. When you sign up, you’ll receive a free downloadable track from Waltz For Dogs.
