“Playing Irish traditional music on concertina and uilleann pipes, this young, energetic duo boasts musical expression beyond their years. Their playing stands as a powerful embodiment of tradition, coupled with sheer musical passion.” 

Caroline and Tom both grew up in houses filled with traditional music. From a young age, Caroline was exposed to the richness of West Limerick and Sliabh Luachra traditional music, an influence which has become the cornerstone of her uniquely vibrant, passionate and emotive style of concertina playing. With an Irish father and French mother, Tom gained his musicality through osmosis, born and raised in a rich environment of Irish music. Inspired by the traveling style of piping, his rhythmic playing is powerful and daring.

Since they began playing together in 2010, while both studying at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. Tom and Caroline have toured extensively, performing around Europe, Canada, America and Australasia. Their music reflects their personalities, fun, vibrant and filled with heart and soul.

Previous performances include:

Woodford Folk Festival, AUSTRALIA, Aukland Folk Festival, NEW ZEALAND, Dublin Irish Festival, Ohio, USA, The Celtic Roots Festival, Ontario, CANADA, Le Bono Winter School, Brittany, FRANCE, The Salmon Leap Festival, Leixlip, IRELAND, The Doolin Folk Festival, Clare, IRELAND Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, Sligo IRELAND

Their touring schedules have also included extensive tours of France, and Canada, performing and teaching Irish traditional music. On a local level, Tom and Caroline are both prominent musicians in Dingle, Co. Kerry, where they live and perform regularly. They have just released their first duet album “Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck” which has already received critical acclaim.

FourWinds produce an exciting landscape of tunes and lyrics that present Irish Traditional Music in a modern and creative context, while maintaining deep roots in the tradition.  With influences including Begley and Cooney, The Bothy Band, Planxty, Brady and Irvine, and Moving Hearts, this energetic quartet delivers a truly unique musical experience.

The band was awarded the prestigious Danny Kyle Award, presented by the Celtic Connections festival board in recognition of outstanding emerging talent in Celtic music, very early on in their career. FourWinds were also chosen as one of three finalists in the Rising Stars Competition, held by The Gathering in Killarney, Ireland.

While the group has performed as FourWinds since 2013, members Alan, Tom, Caroline and Robbie have also all toured extensively throughout Europe, Canada and America with their many different solo and group projects (Perfect Friction, the Colin Farrell Band, Pappy With a Hatchet, Coast to Coast, The Daoiri Farrell Band, Solid Clarity and Tom Delany and Caroline Keane duo) for many years, having shared stages with such renowned musicians as Paddy Keenan, The Chieftains, Eileen Ivers, Tommy O’Sullivan, De Temps Antan, FullSet, Muireann NicAmhlaoibh, Karen Tweed, and many more.

They have shared their electric enthusiasm for Irish traditional and Folk music with a truly international audience, with performances at The Oulu Irish Festival in northern Finland, all the way to the enormous Woodford Folk Festival in Australia. Wherever they go, this outfit raises the roof – simultaneously pushing boundaries and staying true to the tradition.

All four members have received awards at national level, Robbie having claimed coveted ‘All Ireland’ titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Tom and Caroline’s debut “Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck” was released in 2018, and received critical acclaim. The members also feature frequently on many mainstream Irish radio and television channels, including RTÉ, TV3 and the Gaelic language television channel TG4.

With the eponymous debut album “FourWinds” under their belt, the band are currently working on a new one, as well as upcoming tours in Ireland, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

FourWinds is:

Tom Delany – Uilleann pipes, whistles

Caroline Keane – Concertina

Alan Murray – Bouzouki, guitar, vocals

Robbie Walsh – Bodhrán

Fiona and Caroline first met while studying music at the University of Limerick. Many hours of tunes, songs and stories led to a strong bond of friendship between the two already virtuoso musicians. Given their mutual love of traditional music and culture, it was only a matter of time before a unique artistic synergy evolved.

The resultant duo brings together a sweeping programme of entertainment encompassing drifting melodies inspired by the rugged richness of rural landscape and the buoyant banter of the old dance music of Ireland and Scotland.

Fiona Black is a piano accordion player from the Highlands of Scotland. While growing up she was part of the vibrant traditional scene in the Highlands and attended the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music before moving to Limerick to study Irish music. She has spent over ten years touring the world with several bands including the internationally acclaimed band The Outside Track.

Caroline Keane is a concertina player from Limerick, Ireland. Having grown up immersed in the rich musical heritage of Limerick and Sliabh Luachra, she now lives on the Dingle peninsula of West Kerry. Since studying Irish music at the University of Limerick, Caroline has become an acclaimed performer renowned for her energetic musicianship. She is also a prolific composer and
accomplished instrumental teacher. She has toured the world extensively with several projects including the esteemed quartet FourWinds.

Caroline and Fiona are engagingly passionate and emotive musicians. Their music encompasses a wealth of both traditional and newly composed music. Living in remote but spectacular areas, Fiona in the Scottish Highlands and Caroline on The Dingle Peninsula, their performance is infused with the language, tradition, folklore and cultural history of each landscape.

A concert with Fiona and Caroline is fused with personality and charm. The visceral musical punch of their incredible musicianship will leave the imagination smouldering for weeks after a live concert.