Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC) will welcome the internationally acclaimed Paul Brock Band for a live performance at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, in the First Citizens National Bank Auditorium in Dr. Carl Christian Andersen Hall on the Dyersburg campus. The concert, sponsored by TBR Global Studies, is free and open to the public. 

Traveling from Ireland, the Paul Brock Band presents an energetic and authentic interpretation of traditional Irish music. The ensemble’s distinctive sound blends Irish musical traditions with influences from American old-time music, bluegrass, French Canadian music, and other Celtic genres, offering audiences a dynamic celebration of folk and roots music. 

The ensemble features four accomplished musicians: Paul Brock on button accordion and melodeon; Denis Carey on piano; Tara Howley as a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and dancer; and Jake James on fiddle, bodhran, and dance. 

Paul Brock, a multiple All-Ireland champion from Athlone, has earned international recognition as a traditional Irish musician. His album Humdinger was named Instrumental Album of the Year by The Irish American News and Irish Music Album of the Year by The Irish Times. He was also honored as Trad Musician of the Year by The Irish American News in 2004. His recording credits include A Tribute to Joe Cooley with fiddler Frankie Gavin and the solo album Mo Chairdin. 

Denis Carey, a pianist, composer, and arranger from County Tipperary, works across Irish, classical, jazz, and popular music. His 2026 album, Introspection, features original compositions that were also published in a companion book. He has collaborated with Irish songwriter Brendan Graham and has composed scores for several films. 

Tara Howley is a multiple All-Ireland champion who plays 14 instruments. She toured internationally for seven years as the lead uilleann piper with Riverdance and later joined the Celtic Woman Symphony Tour. She has also performed and recorded with the RTE Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra as a vocalist and instrumentalist. 

Jake James is a two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, bodhran player, and dancer from Queens, New York. A member of Trinity Irish Dance Company, he has performed and taught at venues and events including the Irish Arts Center, Carnegie Hall, and Joanie Madden’s Folk ‘n Irish Cruise. His debut album, Firewood, was released in 2018, and he holds a master’s degree in composition from the Aaron Copland School of Music. 

The concert offers students and community members an opportunity to experience world-class traditional Irish music while exploring the cultural connections shared through Irish, Appalachian, and other folk music traditions. 

For more information, contact Larenda Fultz, dean of student services, at 731-286-3240 or fultz@dscc.edu.