The magic touch of Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore, on Saturday, September 30
Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON
ONE of the joys of local music venues is that you can attend on two consecutive days and be treated to two dramatically different musical styles. Following a night of raunchy blues/rock yesterday, Arlington Arts tonight hosted the ethereal folk music of Cara Dillon.
Cara, along with her husband and musical partner Sam Lakeman, accompanied by double or electric bass and cello on some songs, were premiering their new album Coming Home which is due for general release in February 2024, but available tonight on vinyl and CD. Judging by the very long queues at the merchandise stand the capacity audience loved what they heard and copies were selling like hot cakes. Most of the songs were being performed for the first time in front of an audience.
The new album is the result of a large set of poems written by Cara three years ago during Covid lockdowns, which Sam has set to music. The result is a blend of spoken poetry and song, which draws on the story-telling history and traditions of Cara’s home in Dungiven, County Derry. The tracks are full of personal reflections and reminiscences which combine with the wonderful purity, range and resonance of Cara’s voice to enthrall the audience. Thoughtful, intelligent words set to sensitive musical themes entwine to honour traditions while offering something new and different.
Opening with The Water Is Wide from her 2020 album Live At Cooper Hall, before playing Giving, the first of the tracks from the forthcoming album.
Carrageen Moss was wonderful and Cara expressed the meaning beautifully in her introduction. Apron Strings, like many of the new songs recalls Cara’s childhood and country traditions as did Clearing The Path and Daughter.
The final track Mysteries was truly beautiful and the enthusiastically requested encore of The Parting Glass, the song Cara traditionally ends her shows with produced a spontaneous standing ovation.
The inclusion of a handful of old favourites alongside the new material ensured there was something for everyone.
A magical performance.
