Southwest Ramblers in Concert at the Lyceum May 20th

What do you get when you bring together two musicians from Ireland and one from Nashville? 

The Southwest Ramblers!

Hughie Kennedy and Jason Turk from Ireland and Grace Broadhead from Nashville.

Hughie Kennedy, is a native of Cork City with musical roots coming from both sides of the family. A versatile musician, who can perform as a solo artist but can easily blend in with other musicians. He is capable of enhancing an impromptu session and enjoys different musical styles and genres. The button accordion is his primary instrument while he also plays tin whistle and bodhrán.  Hugh has performed in Ireland and abroad over the past few years. He toured extensively across the USA in 2017 with 'The Young Irelanders'. He was chosen as the button accordion player to tour with this renowned group. Hugh has built a large portfolio of musical experiences which include playing numerous weddings, senior dancing competitions, cruise ships, concerts, liner tours, ceilís, festivals, fleadh cheoils, and other musical projects. He featured live on national radio including the infamous ceilí house for the Temple Bar tradfest in January 2016.  Hugh is completing his debut solo album which he is recording and producing in his home studio. Hughie now resides at his home in Cork where he performs regularly around the city. 

Jason Turk is a Cork-born musician pushing the boundaries of Irish traditional music. His work with the Seaboard—an instrument rarely seen in trad—has been so groundbreaking that it’s now part of the school music syllabus in Ireland. He blends Irish melodies with electronic textures, creating a sound that’s as innovative as it is rooted. Watch his performance of Pressed for Time which was used as a global ad using Irish Traditional Music to sell music tech. 

​Grace Broadhead is a fiddler from Sandia Park, NM. She is a member of two local bands in Albuquerque, the Duke City Ceili Band and Jug O’ Punch.In 2018 and 2019, Grace competed in the Midwest Fleadh. In 2019, her Newly Composed Tune “Chain Reaction” came in 1st place, affording her the opportunity to compete at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2019. She has also competed in the eComórtas Ceoil in 2020 and 2021 and was awarded a gold medal in the 15-18 fiddle competition both years. In 2021 she also received a gold medal in fiddle slow airs and a silver medal in the lilting competition. In April, 2022, Grace was awarded the inaugural “Fiddler of London Diaspora Award”.

Grace has had the opportunity to play with several well-known musicians and groups, including the Sharon Shannon Band, The Old Blind Dogs, and Gaelic Storm. She also opened the show for Randal Bays when he came to Albuquerque in February 2019. In 2019, Grace played on two of Fergal Scahill’s Tune a Day videos. She also joined in on two of Colin Farrell’s Tune a Day videos in 2020.

Grace and bouzouki player Ben Williamson released their debut album Tipping the Scales in 2021.

Southwest Ramblers: House Concert Ogden

House Concert: Ogdon 2

Listen to The Southwest Ramblers on Soundcloud