damien o’kane

For Damien O’Kane and Ron Block’s Celtic Connections set, the dividing line between band and guests was appropriately blurred at this highly anticipated banjo-fest gig at the magnificent Barony Hall.

Banjo-loving Coleraine native Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block are on the road again this month with their band for what promises to be a great party. It includes a one-off show at Hammersmith Irish & Cultural Centre with Michael McGoldrick and Irish singer Aoife Scott.

The transatlantic banjo duo Damien O’Kane and Ron Block met with us to discuss Banjophonics, the splendid follow-up to their much-lauded debut Banjophony, plus musical personalities and the Mongolian nose flute.

Featuring a number of special guests including Sierra Hull and Kate Rusby, Damien O’Kane and Ron Block reunite once more on Banjophonics, a rich and rewarding album filled with energy, emotion and a huge heart.

Part Four of our Best Folk Albums of 2018 includes Sam Sweeney, Siobhan Miller, Hannah Rarity, Iona Fyfe, Phillip Henry, Trembling Bells, Jackie Oates, Eddi Reader and more.

Damien O’Kane and Pure Records announce Folk Prostate Cancer, an afternoon and evening concert featuring Kate Rusby, Mawkin, Lori Watson, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton with Jenn Butterworth, Jack Rutter and Dave Burland & The Awkward Squad.

On Banjophony, there’s a connectivity among the musicians that goes far beyond simply sharing a melody; it’s an exchange of ideas and influences and a platform to explore them. O’Kane and Block have taken a collective approach to create an album of incredibly captivating music.

This July/August, Coleraine’s Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block join forces for their first UK tour, showcasing their captivating and singular debut duo album, Banjophony.

This week’s show is largely Christmas / Winter themed featuring festive music from Johnny Cunningham & Susan McKeown, Maggie Boyle & Gary Boyle, Sufjan Stevens, as well as new music from Kate Rusby, O’Hooley & Tidow, Peatbog Faeries and Damien O’Kane.

Avenging & Bright, a crossover between folk, pop and electronica, is bursting with confidence, and rightly so. Once again Damien O’Kane has recorded an album so highly polished it shines, it dazzles. Read our review and watch his new video for Poor Stranger.

We catch up with Damien O’Kane at FolkEast to talk about his music and his forthcoming new album Avenging & Bright. Plus we’ve some great news about his 2018 Summer tour with Ron Block (Alison Krauss band).

Johnny shares some his many highlights of this year’s FolkEast festival including The Young’uns, Jon Boden, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Martin Carthy, Hughie Jones, Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage, LAU, Dan Walsh, Will Pound, Damien O’Kane and many more.

Kate Rusby demonstrates on her 14th studio album that her artistry is constantly evolving. Avoiding the snares of the predictable while springing a few surprises, the expansive musical backdrops on the disc are full of interesting detail, both refreshing and stimulating: not an easy trick to pull off. One that will appeal to existing and new fans alike.

Kate Rusby will release her new album Life in a Paper Boat on October 7th. Watch her latest two videos including that Barnsley Yorkshire Tea fuelled superhero ‘Big Brave Bill’. Uk Tour kicks off this month.

Download Towersey Festivals Free Album: features singles, exclusives and album cuts from some of the best artists scheduled to appear at the festival this year, including the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Best Group 2016 & 2015 The Young’uns, Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe, Dublin’s Lynched and more.

Kate Rusby and her band led by Damien O’Kane provided an evening of top entertainment at Oxford’s Playhouse Theatre – surreal, hypnotic and wondrous…they did not disappoint.

Part Two – Best Folk Music Albums of 2015 including: Bella Hardy, Damien O’Kane, Fabian Holland, Jackie Oates, Karen Matheson, False Lights, O’Hooley & Tidow, Martyn Joseph, Richard Thompson, Rachel Taylor-Beales, Eliza Carthy, John Jones and more.

With her new album Kate Rubsy takes her own, beloved, Christmas traditions; adds some of that unique Rusby magic and provides her audience with a large helping of genuinely warm, heartfelt Christmas cheer.