What does it mean to make art in a divided country? And what does it cost to live at the centre of a cultural revolution?

In Music and Mayhem, acclaimed saxophonist Keith Donald traces his extraordinary journey from post-war Belfast to the forefront of a musical movement that reshaped modern Ireland - and resonated far beyond it. Born into Unionist east Belfast during the early years of the Troubles, Donald was performing on the BBC at just ten years old. By the 1960s, he was studying classics at Trinity College Dublin while immersing himself in the restless energy of the European jazz scene. Music became both refuge and rebellion - and, at times, self-destruction. As Ireland convulsed politically and culturally, Donald found himself at the heart of a new sound. In the 1980s, as a founding force behind the groundbreaking band Moving Hearts, alongside Christy Moore and Dónal Lunny, he helped create a bold fusion of rock, jazz and traditional music that gave voice to a changing nation. Their sound was urgent, political and defiantly modern - a soundtrack to transformation. But this is not only a story of artistic breakthrough. It is a deeply human account of addiction, trauma, fractured relationships and reinvention - including Donald's parallel life as a qualified social worker, helping others while struggling with his own demons.

Narrated by the author, this audiobook carries the rhythm, candour and emotional truth of lived experience. Keith Donald's voice lends rare immediacy to a story that moves from sectarian Belfast to international stages, from youthful brilliance to hard-earned wisdom. Part cultural history, part redemption story, Music and Mayhem is a compelling portrait of creativity forged in conflict - and of music's power to transcend borders.