Caroline was, from a young age, exposed to a wealth of traditional music. Growing up in Limerick, and later moving to the Irish-speaking Gaeltacht area of west Kerry the musical influences of these areas have become the cornerstone of her uniquely vibrant, passionate and emotive style of concertina playing. Now having toured extensively throughout Europe, N. America and Australasia performing at festivals such as Woodford Folk Festival, Dublin Ohio Irish Fest, Le Son Continu and Celtic Colors in both solo and ensemble capacities, Caroline is truly a world musician.
Since 2013, Caroline has been a member of the group FourWinds, performing “An exciting landscape of tunes and lyrics that present Irish traditional music in a modern and creative context”. In 2017, Caroline delivered the duet recording of traditional Irish music with uilleann piper Tom Delany entitled ‘Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck’. Her most recent release, debut solo album “Shine” (2020) achieved significant critical acclaim from peers, media and folk audiences worldwide. Commended for her effervescent and heartwarming music, Caroline was nominated as ’Best Folk Instrumentalist’ at the 2020 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards and honoured as ‘Female Musician of the Year‘ at the 2021 ASLR Celtic Music Awards.
Caroline’s musical journey has been a long and happy one. Caroline began taking tin whistle lessons at her local Comhaltas branch, and soon afterwards progressed on to concertina. Under the guidance of her teacher, Noel Hill, she developed proficiency in her art, and by fifteen, was performing both nationally and internationally. In 2006, Caroline was awarded the prestigious Lán Mara award, in recognition of outstanding achievement in national music examinations.
Caroline has been playing concertina for more than twenty years and professionally since 2007. She achieved a first class honours while studying Irish traditional music at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. She has most recently graduated from the university’s Master of Arts in Traditional Irish Music Performance, where she again achieved the coveted first class honours. Caroline is a prolific composer of contemporary Irish repertoire inspired by her interaction with traditional music on a local and national level, since studying composition within her BA degree.
In addition to her TTCT diploma in Irish traditional music teaching, Caroline also completed a Professional Diploma in Music Education in 2012. Her versed approach to tutelage is not only a testament to her musical expertise, but demonstrates the patience and empathy of experience. She is a regular performer and tutor at Irish, roots and folk music festivals all over the world, and composes, lectures teaches and performs regularly around the South West of Ireland. She is in the process of recording her second solo album, due for release 2022.
Discography
2020: Caroline Keane, Shine
2017: Caroline Keane & Tom Delany, Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck
2016: Avalon Celtic Dances, Avalon the Show
2015: FourWinds, FourWinds
2013: Caroline Keane & Tom Delany, Framework