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Few voices linger in the soul quite like Cara’s; she remains a towering figure in Irish
music, consistently lauded as one of the folk genre’s finest interpreters on the global stage, earning widespread acclaim and countless awards—including the Meteor Award for Best Irish Female, four BBC Folk Awards (from nine nominations), and a Hot Press Award for Best Roots Act, to name a few.
For close to three decades, Dillon has occupied a singular space within folk music: an artist firmly rooted in tradition, yet never limited by it. Her voice—deceptively delicate, yet emotionally devastating—draws from something timeless and elemental. In a genre often weighed down by nostalgia or romanticism, Dillon offers something more enduring: truth carried in song—sung not to impress, but to endure. She continues to honour the rich cultural heritage of her native County Derry, with a commitment that’s both unflinching and deeply felt.
At the heart of her remarkable career is her husband and longtime collaborator, Sam Lakeman. As producer, composer, and performer, his influence has been pivotal in shaping Dillon’s sound, allowing the pair to cultivate a musical identity that defies typical pigeonholes—authentic, distinctive, and ever evolving. Their enduring partnership has ensured they have remained at the very pinnacle of the folk genre with a body of work that is both timeless and quietly innovative.
Audiences at their upcoming shows can expect an intimate, acoustic set, drawn from Dillon’s expansive discography, including their now-classic renditions of “Black Is the Colour” and “The Parting Glass,” alongside selections from 'Coming Home', her landmark 2024 release and first album in over six years.
Emerging from the vibrant traditional music scene of her teenage years with Óige and legendary band, De Dannan, and together in Equation, Dillon and Lakeman’s path wound through the major-label corridors of Warners and enviably hip indie label Rough Trade Records—a journey that mirrors the tension between preservation and reinvention that defines their work.
Her music has travelled far beyond folk’s usual borders— from Disney film soundtracks to chart-topping trance remixes. More recently, three of her songs were featured in the acclaimed TV comedy Derry Girls, and Coming Home was shortlisted for “Album of the Year” at the 2024 Northern Ireland Music Prize.
As Mojo magazine once wrote, Dillon possesses “quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice.” With Coming Home, she affirms that legacy—not simply as a singer, but as a storyteller of rare emotional depth. Her voice, as always, lingers long after the last note fades.
