Composer
Fresh from his recent foray into film and TV composing, Gerry recently collaborated with Irish composer/producer David Holmes - together they scored the soundtrack to the upcoming BBC2 Drama series Death and Nightingales. The series stars Jamie Dornan, Matthew Rhys and Ann Skelly and is written and directed by Allan Cubitt (The Fall, Prime Suspect). The series will premiere in late November 2018.
Gerry released a solo album in 2012 entitled Speech Project. The album was supported by Arts Council England and The Irish Arts Council. Described by The Guardian as ‘An extraordinary …groundbreaking album,’ the album featured a number of guest collaborators including Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey and Martin Hayes.
Past works have included a commission by BBC Radio 3’s The Verb to collaborate with Charlotte Church for a new composition - the resulting work, Identity premiered at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Other previous BBC Radio 3 commissions have included a piece to commemorate the centenary of the well known song Danny Boy. Gerry recorded an interview with boxing legend Barry McGuigan and composed A Father’s Anthem based on the interview recording. The piece premiered on BBC Radio 3 in a live broadcast from Northern Ireland as part of Derry/Londonderry’s City of Culture celebrations.
Producer
An award winning producer, production highlights include a Mercury nomination for Sam Lee’s album Ground of it’s Own and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Lisa Knapp’s album Hidden Seam. Gerry produced Lisa Knapp’s debut album Wild & Undaunted which won Mojo Magazine’s Folk Album of the Year. Gerry also produced Tom Robinson’s first album in 20 years Only The Now. As a producer Gerry has worked with a vast array of artists including Graham Coxon (Blur), Sir Ian Mckellen, Paul Heaton, James Yorkston, Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols) Olly Knights (Turin Brakes), Justin Currie, Billy Bragg, Martin Carthy, Martyn Joseph, Nitin Sawhney, Alasadair Roberts,, TV Smith and many others.
Musician
Gerry studied under famed composer and academic the late Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin at University College Cork. A virtuoso fiddle player and multi instrumentalist, Gerry has recorded and performed with a wide range of artists including Youth (Killing Joke), Lisa Knapp, Tom Robinson, Jah Wobble, Spiritualized, David Tibet (Current 93) Mundy, Mel C, Van Morrison, The Popes and various others. Recent work has included playing on Damon Albarn’s latest album with The Good the Bad & the Queen.
“Gerry Diver’s “Speech Project” is a pure gem of an album . I keep returning to it. I get carried away each time. Gerry has produced a very special collection. I feel privileged to be a small part of it. For me, this is essential listening.
”
“Over the years I’ve worked with Chris Thomas, Todd Rundgren, Bill Price, Steve Lillywhite, Dan Hartman, Robin Millar and Ray Davies and can honestly say none of them comes close to Gerry Diver for sheer creative alchemy in the recording studio”
“Sometimes an album is worth checking out simply because of its producer. Gerry Diver has produced and performed on some of the most intriguing albums of the past year”
“Gerry Diver.....One man supergroup - rarely do you find in music with such a diverse display of passion , soul and magic combined with a virtuoso talent of so many diverse instruments
…genius”
“A flash of fire from a fiddler’s heart - Diver is divine!”