UnButtoned

notes
County Roscommon native Tommie Cunniffe is a button accordion player and avid composer of Irish traditional music. While growing up between the towns of Ballinasloe and Athlone on the Roscommon/Galway border, Tommie started his playing with an Athlone based music ensemble, which toured Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Holland. From a young age, Tommie became interested in the music of East Galway, playing regularly with local musicians from that area, many of whom played with or were connected to the music of the famous Aughrim Slopes Ceili band.

Tommie was one of the founding members of the traditional Irish music group Taltarella who also performed across Ireland and Europe. In 1998, Talterella released the EP Six Reels of Joy, consisting entirely of music composed by Tommie. Tommie’s own tunes are inventive and they reflect his singular style of accordion playing.

Tommie moved to Cork City in 2000, and has spent much time playing the session scene there with various Cork based musicians such as Johnny Neville, Gerry McKee, Terry McKee and Karl Nesbitt. It was in Cork that Tommie met guitarist Brian Miller from Minnesota in the US and percussionist Brian Morrisey from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, both of whom accompany him on his debut solo album. This brand new CD, Unbuttoned, features many of Tommie’s own compositions along with a number of traditional tunes.
great cd

# Posted on November 28th 2007 by Celtic1234