STROUD: The Sub Rooms

Sunday 6th October, 2024

6:30pm

Event information

‘Possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice’ - Mojo magazine

In the world of music, few luminaries shine as brightly as Cara Dillon. Known for her captivating live performances, this Irish singer seldom fails to leave audiences spellbound with her breathtaking voice and emotional delivery. Paired with her long-standing collaborator, Sam Lakeman, they have remained at the very pinnacle of the folk genre for an impressive two decades.

The autumn of 2023 marked a significant milestone in Cara's career as she unveiled "Coming Home" to rapt audiences, a show featuring her first new material in over six years. The response was nothing short of overwhelming, including a seminal, sold-out appearance at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, where Cara headlined the prestigious International Arts Festival.

Born from a collection of poems penned during a time of precious inner peace, and the remarkable album that followed, this acclaimed live production sees Cara skilfully interweave her new material with a carefully curated selection of her beloved classics. The result is a tapestry that seamlessly blends storytelling, poetry, and song, effortlessly blurring the lines between them and offering a rare and evocative glimpse into Cara's world, where she breathes life into personal memories and stories inspired by her native Co. Derry and the people, places, and customs she holds closest to her heart.

Following the official release of the album and the publication of her book of the same name in early 2024, Cara will be bringing "Coming Home" to life once again. She'll be accompanied by an incredible band led by Sam and featuring his sensitive arrangements, which help to make this her most compelling live show yet—in which profound memories and emotions are unlocked in all who see it.

Cara’s breadth of appeal stems from a remarkable career that continually places her home and culture at the very heart of her music and began with her singing with the likes of De Dannan and Óige as a teenager, being signed to legendary indie record label Rough Trade, providing the title track and narration for a Disney film, appearing with Symphony Orchestras in England, Scotland, Ireland and beyond, all leading to contemporary superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, and Sam Smith citing her as an influence. And yet her most successful record to date comprises traditional Irish folk songs released on her own label.