Join us for An Evening with Tom Dunne, Fiachna Ó Braonáin and Alan Connor on 08 November 2025 at the Waterfront Studio, Belfast!
Tom Dunne (lead singer of Something Happens) and Fiachna Ó Braonáin (founding member of Hothouse Flowers) have joined forces with Alan Connor (pianist with The Late Late Show House Band and long-time member of the Sharon Shannon Band) to form a unique trio: An Evening with Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Tom Dunne and Alan Connor – Songs and Stories
This special night features songs from both The Hothouse Flowers and Something Happens and a selection of the trio’s all-time favourite tracks.
Between them, Tom and Fiachna have released 11 studio albums (4 of which reached Number One), 7 live albums and undertook an estimated 20 to 25 tours of the US.
Alan Connor brings a touch of Billy Preston-style magic to the stage, having played on more albums than one could count. While Tom and Fiachna have crossed paths on the world's stages over the years, the idea of collaborating musically only recently came to life. As Tom puts it:
“They seemed like such different worlds. Hothouse Flowers had strong trad and folk influences. Something Happens were so guitar heavy and American-facing, American-produced – hence all those US tours.”
Fast forward to now – the trio has played around 50 shows together, and each one has been magical. Naturally, the night isn’t just about the music – it’s full of stories, too:
“Music is an extreme world. It can attract delicate, gifted souls – fragile and beautiful. And it can attract the kind of people who prey on those souls. ‘And no gold watch on retirement,’ as Warren Zevon used to say.”
One such beautiful soul was Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson. Tom shares:
“I got to interview him five times. It was never easy. I tell the full story in the show. It always felt like a struggle to get his attention. Occasionally, the real Brian would snap into focus.”
Expect an evening of stories and shared memories, unforgettable songs and harmonies, jaw-dropping musical moments, guitar, low whistle, and charm, laughter, tears, and maybe even a sing-along. And still… you’ll be back in bed by eleven.
Alan Connor has toured with Sharon Shannon for over a decade and regularly performs with Something Happens. He has been a member of RTÉ’s The Late Late Show House Band since 2021. In 2024, the trio released their debut album, "Live in The Pavilion".