Musician works to build cultural bridge between China and Ireland

On Thursday nights, he can be found in an Irish pub in Kingston along the Thames playing with a group called Hungry Grass in sessions held as social music gatherings found around the world wherever there are Irish communities.

A session leader manages musicians playing instruments such as the guitar, flute, violin — or "fiddle" in the session culture — tin whistle, accordion, and bodhran. The session leader suggests tunes and leads the playing or singing.

On Friday nights, Li is a regular and popular member of another session at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith.

"My background is being a poet, not a musician," he tells China Daily. "In China, I had a Canadian English teacher called Glen Allen, who introduced me to Irish culture, particularly its writers.

"When I came to London, I saw Hungry Grass play and was attracted to their songs' stories. I wanted to translate them, but realized that to present the words the right way, I must have some basic musical knowledge. With lyrics, it's not about the straight translation of words, they have to sit right with the music."

As with many Irish stories, the turning point came in a pub.

"Once, I was listening to Hungry Grass and started drumming on the table. An old Irishman told me I was doing it all wrong and I should learn how to play Irish music properly, so I looked up bodhran classes and found the Irish Cultural Centre."

Dublin-born Philip Cashin is the founder and leader of the Friday night session group that performed for King Charles when Li visited the cultural center in March 2022.

He tells China Daily how highly he rates Li's musicianship.