Colm Broderick & Francis Cunningham Australian Tour 2023
By special invitation from Celtic Piping Club, and with support from Culture Ireland, we announce the debut Australian tour of Colm Broderick on uilleann pipes and Francis Cunningham on concertina. Colm with Francis will perform concerts and teach workshops in Australia in October to November 2023 visiting NSW, ACT, Victoria and South Australia. Hear pure-drop Irish traditional music and learn from two lads who have grown up amongst the masters.
Tour Dates 2023
Sydney workshops: Sat 28 Oct
Sydney concert: Sat 28 Oct
Katoomba concert: Sun 29 Oct
Canberra house concert: Thu 2 Nov
Castlemaine concert: Sat 4 Nov
Melbourne pipers' gathering: Sun 5 Nov
Newport concert: Mon 6 Nov
Melbourne workshops: Tue 7 Nov
Melbourne concert: Thu 9 Nov
Geelong house concert: Sat 11 Nov
Warrnambool concert: Sun 12 Nov
Adelaide concert: Sat 18 Nov
Scroll down for details & booking information.
Colm Broderick (uilleann pipes) and Francis Cunningham (concertina) are award-winning international ambassadors of Irish traditional music. Colm from County Carlow and Francis from County Clare have played together regularly from a very young age at fleadhs, sessions, performances and more. Their music is rooted in the rich piping and concertina playing traditions of county Clare. Their love and appreciation of Clare-style music is deep and profound, influenced by “the old players” whose legacy they carry into the future. The music of Colm and Francis is joyful, evocative, rhythmic & nuanced and speaks through time and generations with a thousand welcomes.
Colm Broderick and Francis Cunningham are on the rise as two of the greatest living exponents of Irish traditional music, each touring frequently in Europe, the U.S. and across Ireland. This is their first Australian tour, presented by Celtic Piping Club in celebration of the Club's 10th Anniversary.
Colm Broderick
Colm Broderick is an uilleann piper from County Carlow in the South East of Ireland. Taught initially by local Carlow musicians, he flourished from expert tuition at workshops throughout the country. Colm has won many awards for his music including all-Ireland titles and the Seán Ó Riada Bonn Óir.
Colm has performed from a young age at concerts, recitals, state events, gala dinners, and receptions, and more recently has been in demand as a touring teacher and performer across Ireland, USA and Europe.
Colm has been given the honour of a loan from Na Píobairí Uilleann of the Liam O'Flynn Rowsome set, a very special instrument of great historical significance in Irish traditional music. It is a set of uilleann pipes once owned by master piper Liam O’Flynn, which was also played for many years by esteemed Miltown Malbay musician Willie Clancy. Na Piobairi Uilleann has tasked Colm with playing and looking after this special instrument and carrying on its legacy for the time being.
Francis Cunningham
Francis Cunningham hails from Crusheen, County Clare. He is described as one of the finest young exponents of the concertina with a strong emphasis on the Clare tradition. In 2019 he released an album with Carl Hession and Eimear Coughlan featuring 40 original compositions entitled ‘Úrnua’. A multi All-Ireland concertina winner, he has performed in Europe, the US, Asia and has taught workshops at various festivals such Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Consairtín, The Feakle Festival, Scoil Éigse, Meitheal, The O Carolan Harp Festival and Concertina Cruinniú.
Video
Tunes: Michael Cramer’s (The Burren Reel) and The Limestone Rock
Colm Broderick - uilleann pipes
Francis Cunningham - anglo concertina
Recorded at Quin Friary, August 2023
Event and Booking Details
Sydney workshops
Saturday 28 October, afternoon
The Gaelic Club, 1/64 Devonshire Street, Surrey Hills, on Gadigal land
Beginner uilleann pipes, 1.30 - 2.45pm
Beginner anglo concertina, 1.30-2.45pm
Intermediate uilleann pipes, 3.30-4.45pm
Intermediate anglo concertina, 3.30-4.45pm
$45 + booking fee
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSDD
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/6pLifOG0C
Sydney concert
Saturday 28 October, 7.30pm
Quakers' Hall, 119 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, on Gadigal land
$30 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSDQ
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4rlEPUXgE
Blue Mountains concert
Sunday 29 October, 7.30pm
Junction 142, 142 Katoomba Street, Katoomba, on Dharug and Gundungurra land
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSDK
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1tvJtpna0
Canberra house concert
Thursday 2 November, arrive 7pm for a 7.30pm start
Private home in Fisher, on Ngunnawal land
Email lancewgreen@gmail.com to book. Address detailed provided upon booking.
Entry is by cash donation at the door with $25 the suggested amount. Light supper provided.
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1sn5H63oH
Castlemaine concert (International Uilleann Piping Day event)
Saturday 4 November, 8pm
Ray Bradfield Room, Frederick Street (behind MAXI IGA carpark), on Dja Dja Wurrung land
With special guests Allan Evans & Ruth Boylan
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLJMZ
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/4I3FxsUIV
Melbourne pipers' gathering (Melbourne International Uilleann Piping Day event)
Sunday 5 November, 2.30 - 5pm
The Last Jar (upstairs room), 616 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land
Free, bookings not required
A casual afternoon of all things pipes with fellow pipers. Colm will give a short presentation about pipes at approx 3pm.
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/u68EiL1Xl
Newport concert
Monday 6 November (evening before Melbourne Cup Day), 7.30pm
Newport 2nd Scout Hall, 6 Market Street, Newport (Melbourne's inner west), on Bunurong land
Presented in association with Newport Fiddle & Folk Club
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSDU
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/6cKCRckck
Melbourne workshops
Tuesday 7 November (Melbourne Cup Day)
The Last Jar, 616 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land
Beginner uilleann pipes, 11.30am-12.45pm, $45 + booking fee
Beginner anglo concertina, 11.30am-12.45pm, $45 + booking fee
Intermediate uilleann pipes, 1.30-2.45pm, $45 + booking fee
Intermediate anglo concertina, 1.30-2.45pm, $45 + booking fee
Irish traditional music, all instruments welcome, 4.00-5.30pm, $25 + booking fee
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLHSH
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1ozTON1t1
Melbourne concert
Thursday 9 November, 7.30pm
The Last Jar, 616 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung land
With special guests Allan Evans & Ruth Boylan
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLHTR
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1df6Mk14O
Geelong house concert
Saturday 11 November, arrive from 6pm, music from 7.30pm
Private home in Geelong West, address will be emailed upon booking, on Wadawurrung land
BYO food and drinks
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSEE
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/3ofUkLWdu
Crossley concert (Warrnambool International Uilleann Piping Day event)
Sunday 12 November, 2pm
St Brigid's Church Hall, Supper Room, 212 Koroit-Port Fairy Road, Crossley, on Gunditjmara land
Followed by a traditional Irish music session
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CLSEA
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/6F1ZqiEBE
Adelaide concert
Saturday 18 November, 7pm
The Irish Club, 13-15 Carrington St, George Parade, Adelaide, on Kaurna land
$25 + booking fee / under 18 years free
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/uilleann-pipes-and-concertina-concert-tickets-720309724777
Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/50iAjlgNO
This tour is supported by Culture Ireland, promoting Irish arts worldwide.