Tom Portman

Tom Portman is multi instrumentalist on finger style guitar, Dobro® and lap steel, performer, composer and songwriter based in the west of Ireland.  His work focuses on our relationships to each other and the natural world; exploring themes of place, mythology, the cycles of life and death and in doing this, making sense of the emotional landscape of his life. Hopefully, these creations resonate with others and give voice to our shared human experience. 

There’s a wide range to his work - from the Blues, Irish melodies, swing, rag time through bluegrass to Indian ragas. His broad skill set along with an eclectic set of musical influences places him in a unique position as a performer composer and recording artist.

Since 2015 he has been touring with Grammy nominated Louisiana slide player Dege Legg, whose music featured in Tarantino’s film ‘Django Unchained’.

In 2019 Tom became an endorsed Duesenburg Artist and received the Music Network Instrument Bursary towards a Duesenburg guitars ‘Fairytale’ Lap Steel. In 2021 he completed a 1st class honors Masters Degree in Songwriting at the University of Limerick.

“Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council”.

"If it has strings, Portman can play them. Not only play them but bend them, scratch them, shape 'em and mould them into a collage of beauty. ."
CARL CORCORAN Presenter, Blue of the Night