One of the most celebrated folk voices to have come out of Ireland, Cara Dillon, will be touring her Christmas show “Upon a Winter’s Night” for a third year running this December – and will bring it to her home town of Frome this Sunday, 16th December.
The overwhelming success of previous tours has cemented this magical and memorable festive experience as a firm tradition. Cara and her band will once again capture the mystery of Christmas with a collection of songs ancient and modern providing a welcome reminder that the festive season is about more than commercialism.
There is another side to Christmas – far away from Bing crooning, Noddy screaming and a world apart from Jingle Bells and Santa Baby – it’s a place where the story of Jesus’ birth is retold with genuine wonder and celebrated with the dignity, passion and beauty it deserves. Christmas is one of Cara’s passions as her live show and album prove.
Cara will be joined by her wonderful band who weave Celtic and folksy rhythms alongside reverent and atmospheric carols while Cara holds the darkness at bay with the renowned purity of her voice. Husband Sam Lakeman (piano, guitar) will be joined by Toby Shaer on fiddle and whistles, Ed Boyd on guitar and Luke Daniels on accordion.
With 17 dates throughout England, Ireland and Scotland there is plenty of opportunity for people to catch this uplifting and moving concert, on a tour starting in her native Derry and ending at Suffolk’s celebrated Snape Maltings.
As modest and down-to-earth as they come, Cara admits to being taken aback by the success of her Christmas album “Upon a Winter’s Night” when it reached Number 1 in the Indie Album Charts not once, but twice in 2016.
Throughout an enviable career which has seen her explore opportunities to tread many different paths – from releasing folk crossover albums on indie label Rough Trade to recording a Disney soundtrack and collaborating with leading UK dance DJ/producers – Cara has always chosen to plant herself firmly within the landscape of her cultural heritage.
Holding a position at the very top of the Irish Folk genre, this extraordinary singer has been captivating audiences, winning awards and achieving exceptional acclaim for over 20 years. She has (according to Mojo magazine) “quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice”.
See her in From on Sunday 16th December at the Cheese & Grain, 7pm. Tickets £25: Box office 01373 455420/ www. cheeseandgrain.com