Tom McConville

Doors : 7.30pm

From £12

General Admission

Doors / Bar Open 7.30pm
Show Starts 8pm

Tom was brought up in a pub on Newcastle on Tyne's famous Scotswood Road populated by a clientele from the city's Irish and Scottish communities and was where Tom first experienced traditional singing and fiddle music. The hornpipes of the 19th century Scottish fiddler and composer James Hill who lived in Newcastle were amongst Tom's earliest influences. Now, a few(!) years later, Tom is widely acknowledged as THE authority on the music of James Hill and produced the first CD devoted entirely to Hill’s compositions.

Tom’s musical journey really started in earnest in the North East of England's folk clubs in the early 1970s. Newcastle’s thriving Irish scene provided the opportunity with his first band to support the late Sean McGuire, The Fureys, Boys of the Lough and even a lock-in with The Dubliners, and the late John Doonan. Tom still credits Sean McGuire (legend!), the fiddle genius from Belfast, for teaching him his bowing techniques.

"A great musician with a lovely flowing style, beautiful tone and faultless technique and is regarded by many as one of the finest fiddle players in the British Isles" (The Folk Song Society of Greater Boston, USA).

Turning professional in 1974 Tom partnered with Bob Fox with whom he first came to EFC in our George Square venue and then joined folk/rock band Magna Carta and toured all over Europe. A memorable partnership with the late Kieran Halpin produced two award-winning albums and top billing at The Cambridge Folk Festival.

Tom's next group Dab Hand made several visits to the USA where he met with another of his hero fiddlers, Byron Berline. After a spell with Syncopace and a partnership with guitarist Chris Newman, Tom spent the next 11 years recording & touring with Northumbrian piper Pauline Cato.

Every new venture brought great success and immense respect from Tom's peers and the public alike, but throughout his many collaborations Tom has taken his solo show to venues large and small.

“A sandpaper-dry wit, eye-watering skill on the fiddle, great vocals… you just can’t help feeling that a performance by Tom is like visiting an old friend”, is how one folk club organiser described him.

"A magical sound.....totally captivating" (Folkwrite)

2006 saw Tom working with Scots instrumentalist of the year, Aaron Jones, and All-Ireland Champion flute, fiddle and whistle ace Claire Mann (another Geordie). Along with Kieran Boyle, Peter Tickell, Dave Wood & Kevin McGuire, Tom completed a stunning solo CD Tommy On The Bridge. Musically brilliant, it attracted great critical acclaim. Two more solo albums followed: Tommy on Song and Tommy on the Road. Tours with these albums played a major part in Tom being voted Musician of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Renowned also for his skill as an accompanist, Tom has played on hundreds of albums including Barbara Dickson, Richard Thompson, Allan Taylor and Lindisfarne. While he has shared stages throughout the world with Stephan Grappelli, Sean McGuire, Mark O’Connor, Paul Brady, and The Chieftains, Tom has never forgotten his roots and is as happy in the intimate atmosphere of a small folk club as he is at the largest festivals.

"One of the greatest violinists I've ever heard and by far the biggest influence in my music. A true master" (Seth Lakeman)

Tom McConville is a world class act!

See more at https://tommcconville.co.uk