18th March – Tom McConville

Virtuoso Fiddler Tom McConville is the very welcome guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 18th March. This is one not to miss. He is one of the leading Fiddle players of our time and it will be great to hear him again in Irvine.

Tom McConville is a performer, session musician and teacher – and is in great demand on all three fronts. His first experience of traditional singing and fiddle music was in The Globe pub in Newcastle where he was brought up. It was ‘the watering hole’ for many in the local Irish and Scottish communities on Tyneside. That explains why Tom’s repertoire although deeply rooted in his native North East, has strong Scottish and Irish influences.

Tom is a scintillating Fiddler. He has rich and warm vocals and a dry Geordie wit. The Irvine Club audience should be prepared for a rollercoaster of fast rhythmic dance tunes through to beautiful slow airs and great singing – with at all times his inimitable sense of humour and style in tow. When Tom plays at the Irvine Club, he will have just returned from a three day stint at the Costa Del Sol Folk Festival!

As well as performing solo, Tom tours with a variety of line-ups and accompanists including Guitarists David Newey & Andy Watt, Phil Murray on Acoustic Bass and Accordionists Shona Kipling & Leonard Brown – the latter plays Keyboards too. Back to Scotswood released last year is Tom’s most recent album and is described as being perfectly executed and a real pleasure to listen to.

Some years ago, because he had a continuous shoulder problem, Tom was advised to give up Fiddle playing. He heard about the Alexander Technique and has never looked back. The Alexander Technique is about gaining better freedom of movement through better health and better posture. Tom went on to take a three year course and is now a fully qualified practitioner in this technique. Musicians feature among his many clients.

Do your very best to be in the Irvine Folk Club audience on Wednesday 18th March at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road for 8pm. It’s BYOB.