Cara Dillon

Cara Dillon

Cara Dillon is an Irish folk singer and songwriter from Dungiven, County Derry, in Northern Ireland. Born in 1975, she begins her solo career in the UK in 2001 with her self-titled debut album.

Early career

Before starting her solo work, Dillon is a member of the folk groups Óige and Equation. She later leaves Equation with Sam Lakeman, whom she marries in 2002, and they sign to Blanco y Negro under the name Polar Star. No recordings appear to be issued under that name.

Solo releases

Her first album, Cara Dillon, combines traditional songs with two original compositions. It wins the Best Newcomer award and the Best Song prize for “Black Is the Colour” at the 2002 Radio 2 Folk Awards. Her second album, Sweet Liberty, follows in 2003, and After the Morning is released in 2006.

Later work

In January 2008, Dillon and her band record the DVD The Redcastle Sessions in County Donegal. This leads to an extensive tour that runs through Ireland, Great Britain and the United States and continues into the winter of 2008/09. During this period, guitarist John Smith joins her as a duet partner on the single “If I Prove False”. Her fourth album, Hill of Thieves, is released with that single and sees her move to her own label, Charcoal Records.