Bookie Baker’s creative and musical journey, punctuated by an arrest and interrogation in China, is just part of the alt-folk duo’s story. Consisting of Irishman, Caolan O’Neill-Forde and Canadian, Alex Montyro, their journey from the beginning has been fuelled by a sense of adventure, entrepreneurial spirit and wanderlust.

The collaboration began after Montyro opened a music venue in the Liaoning province of China and O’Neill-Forde wandered in looking for musical compatriots in a faraway land. Soon packing in large crowds to the ire of local communist party officials, the duo found themselves enduring multiple interrogations by local police after an arrest during a live performance. Released after being warned to never play music in the country again, they opened a map and considered options across the globe. One city became a clear standout due to its thriving renaissance of creativity, culture and commerce: Prague.

Several musical experiments later, they decided to go it alone and quickly gained notice in the local scene. Combining video production talents with a knack for storytelling, the pair enlisted the help of several local actors and crew to direct the video for Autumn Wind, the lead track on their newly released EP “The 1st”.

Bookie Baker will be touring Europe this summer and opening in Prague for pioneering Alt-folk troubadour, Amigo the Devil. Bookie Baker has been described as "A winning combination of deft yet beautifully-understated musicianship & wry turn of phrase & expressive vocals" reminiscent of Father John Misty meets Simon & Garfunkel.