Available in digital format only, Eb & Flow is a beautifully relaxing collection of light ambient instrumental music which borders on meditation and New Age genres, while at the same time satisfying guitar lover's lust for great compositions of easy listening.

To quote Tom Portman:
Eb & Flow is a collection of improvisations I recorded on National and Weissenborn Guitars in my old house overlooking Lough Corrib in the village of Menlo just three miles from Galway on the West of Ireland. Despite being so close to the city it is a nature paradise with the lake and forest being on my doorstep. Just like the house in Menlo these pieces are like a sanctuary to retreat to. A time to breath, unwind and let the spirit Eb & Flow.


about the artist:
Tom Portman has been a consistent eclectic and prolific force in Irish music. His 4th album, 'Train To Nowhere' was released on our sister label, Friendly Folk Records (Nov/2022). Eb & Flow is Tom's 5th album.

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.

Portman is an advanced multi instrumentalist on finger style guitar, Dobro® and lap steel, performer, composer and songwriter based in the west of Ireland. In addition, he also performs and composes music on the Violin.

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.

Tom’s musicianship is gaining renown both in Ireland and abroad for his one man shows and performances with a plethora of acts. Since 2015 he has been touring with Grammy nominated Louisiana slide player Dege Legg, whose music featured in Tarantino’s film ‘Django Unchained’.

Appreciated by many artists, he’s supported the likes of Eric Bibb and Preston Reed. A long list of album collaborations offers a testament to his versatility, as does his Dobro playing on International feature film animation ‘The Ugly Duckling and Me”.

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.

In addition, Portman teaches instrumental classes for over ten years in Galway through the GRETB, ‘Maoin Ceol’ School of Music, Athenry Music School.

"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. This latest is a gorgeous collection of magical soundscapes that take the listener to other places - this is a melting pot of Americana, Irish trad., world and the magical. There'll surely be plenty of airings on Blue of the Night
CARL CORCORAN Presenter, Blue of the Night

‘A softly spoken singer songwriter who can sing the blues with the best ...his guitar was an extension of himself. .a spirit of true Irish blues throughout his work... Adrian Lavelle, Spirit of Voice

released December 16, 2022