Welcome to the official

Black Velvet Irish Music website.

Here you can find information on the band, download images, music clips and gig dates. And anyone wishing to book the band for gigs in 2010/11 can find contact details here.

Black Velvet are a fully professional traditional Irish band based in the UK. Near Truro Cornwall, England, but travel to almost any event worldwide. Established for over 16 years, the "core of the band" comprises of Alan Murfin,Caroline Murfin and Emma Murfin.

For some gigs when required the band have an additional guest member, Hudson Swan founder of the Cornwall Fiddle Orchestra to add additional instuments to the sound of their music.

The band plays a lively mix of traditional Irish entertainment, playing songs, jigs,reels and comedy, a highly adaptable band suitable for every event from the very large to pubs, hotels, festivals, weddings or even wakes! At Black Velvet gigs there is something for everyone, whether you like the thoughtful songs, enjoy the foot tapping tunes or Alan's comedy ...he has jokes for every occasion!

Black Velvet are a very flexible band, and gigs include all types of venues from the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Centaur and the Guiness village to the Royal Cornwall show with over 100,000 visitors to pubs, hotels and family parties. They have toured internationally and also made a number of live broadcasts on Radio Cornwall and several appearances on T.V.

Black Velvet are Cornwall's premier Irish band

Black Velvet are a fully professional Irish band, established for over 16 years. The Murfin family band comprises of Alan (Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Bazouki) Caroline (Vocals, Bodhran, Guitar,Percussion) Emma (Whistles, Tenor low Whistle, Bodhran)

Together Black Velvet have toured all over the U.K. and abroad, recorded 3 albums, and a D.V.D. available through this site.

The band are based near Truro Cornwall, so gig all over Cornwall but do venture elsewhere, across the uk and Europe, so even if your venue is not close by, still ask, as we do travel.

The Black Velvet band's gig diary is updated quite frequently but new gigs come in on an almost daily basis,so you are best to give us a quick call on 01637 830698 to double check that the diary is up to date.

Black Velvet originally formed as a husband and wife duo of Alan and Caroline Murfin.

The name Black Velvet was suggested by a popular drink made by mixing Champagne and Guinness ( so no prizes for guessing which one is which,) and there's also the obvious link to the well known Irish folk song.

Daughter Emma Murfin became the bands whistle player professionally at the age of 12 and the duo became a trio, enriched by her enchanting whistle playing . One of the U.K's finest whistle players, she was also crowned Miss County of Cornwall in November 2004 and represented Cornwall in the Miss England competition.

The individual style of Black Velvet retains a very traditional feel making the music suitable for all listeners and any venue. The music is lively, thoughtful, and can't help but get your foot tapping. Audiences can also expect a generous helping of Irish wit and humour in the form of jokes, audience interaction and comic songs.

Some of the popular songs often heard at a Black Velvet gig include The Black Velvet Band, Irish Rover, Wild Rover, Danny Boy, Whiskey in the Jar.....and many more. As a band they grew up listening to some of the best performers of Folk music the world has to offer in a bid to understand the core of the music. Emma always learns her whistle tunes from the recorded playing of bands such as the Bothy Band, Bard, Matt Malloy, Tom Mc Hale etc, she works on the principal that if you learn from the best you will become the best.

Contact us:

  Tel: England

  01637830698

  07727120604

please note, occasionally i will receive a message that I wont be able to reply to sometimes postmaster sends it back so if it is important please include a phone number just in case

Kind regards