Multi-talented Tom Portman flying high with the launch of White Crow

Multi-instrumentalist Tom Portman will celebrate the launch of his new album White Crow with a show in The Loft in Seven Bar, Bridge St next Thursday, July 23, as part of this year’s Galway Fringe Festival.

This is the fourth acoustic release from the Galway performer and in addition to the solo guitar/dobro/vocal soundscape it includes new compositions that incorporate Tom’s playing of violin, mandolin and banjo.

White Crow’s original music is influenced by English, Irish and eastern folk, as well as US banjo player Béla Fleck and the late bluesman J.J Cale.

Tom is joined on a number of tracks by other talented Galway-based musicians; pianist Maja Elliot, bassists Karl Clews and John O’Dwyer, flautist Smaragda Petridi and vocalist Gosia Kamieniecka. ‘

Tom Portman has been a part of the Galway music scene for many years, and his musical journey has taken him to some far-off places, including a trip to India with The Bahh Band.

“It was fantastic,” Tom says of that tour. “We got to play the India Surf Festival, near Puri, we got to play the B Flat Club in Bangalore, which was a great gig. We’d move around, and we covered huge mileage. Thirty-one hour train journeys! We met great people, and brilliant musicians.”

For now, Tom has his feet in Galway with a fine album to promote. Doors for this recommended show are 9.30pm, tickets €12.50