Bookie Baker

Bookie Baker's musical journey is as winding and vivid as their alt-folk melodies. Formed by Canadian Alex Montyro and Irishman Caolan O’Neill-Forde, the duo's origin story reads like an adventurous novel, complete with wanderlust and a run-in with Chinese authorities. Their paths crossed unexpectedly in a music venue in Liaoning, China, owned by Montyro, where O’Neill-Forde wandered in seeking kindred spirits. Their music quickly drew local audiences, and not long after, the ire of communist party officials. Arrested during a live performance, the duo was eventually released with a stern warning to cease all musical activities in China. Undeterred, they charted a new course, settling in Prague. Since their relocation, Bookie Baker have become a fixture in Prague's thriving music scene, known for intimate duo performances and exciting full-band shows. The band's sound has evolved with a changing lineup that now consistently includes full live drums, piano, bass, and guitars. While ostensibly a folk band, Bookie Baker have been lauded for their electric and energetic live shows. With a sound described as "a winning combination of deft yet beautifully understated musicianship, wry lyricism, and expressive vocals" akin to a blend of Father John Misty and Simon & Garfunkel, Bookie Baker continues to carve out their niche in the alt-folk landscape, inviting listeners into their world of lyrical adventures and melodic storytelling.