Groove Tube with Cian O’Connell

Multi-instrumentalist Tom Portman has long been one of Galway’s most consistent and prolific performers – and yet it’s been seven years since his last recorded release. Over the years he has featured as a key part of various acts including John Conneely and Brother Dege – which explains why the singer-songwriter has been focused on projects outside of his own work for the last few years

But that changed this week with the release of Train to Nowhere, Tom’s fifth studio album.

A master of the blues, this record emphasises his ability as a country and folk artist. Train to Nowhere offers evidence of the longstanding creative partnership Tom shares with harmonica maestro Maciej Zaworonek. It sets in motion a busy period of new music for Tom, as he embarks on a partnership with two sister record labels in the Netherlands.

“I put the last one out in 2015,” he recalls. “Then I started working Brother Dege and I was touring with him. As well as that I got really into playing the violin so that was taking up a good bit of my time.

“I was just learning – putting lots of time into learning other music. I got a little distracted from putting out releases. Then we recorded this one, that’s coming out, in 2019. I got it all finished and then the lockdown happened. I’ve recently signed with Friendly Folk Records, and we decided to put that out as my first release with them.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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