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Review of Cara Dillon: Live at The Wessex Hall, Poole Arts Centre, March 2002

Before I launch into this review, it's only fair to warn you that it may contain a number of superlatives -- I just couldn't help myself.

Cara Dillon, formerly of 'Oige' and 'Equation', is the sister of Mary from 'Deanta'. No offense to Mary but there is something incredibly natural and unaffected in the way Cara sings, that is incredibly refreshing to hear today. You may have heard her singing on telly on the soundtrack to Billy Connolly's journey through Belfast (her take on 'There were Roses' received a phenomenal response), or you may know her as the winner of 2 folk awards from Radio 2, but until you've seen her live performance, you just haven't had the whole experience.

I'm not gay, but if Cara were interested, I reckon I could make an exception. This bird is just the sexiest thing I have ever heard or seen-- stroking you with her voice on the deeper notes, soaring effortlessly up to the higher ones and tearing your heart with the power and emotion she packs into the whole song. Be prepared for prickly hairs along the back of the neck for the entire set.

Think Suzanne Vega. Think Joni Mitchell. Think Kate Bush. Think Nina Simone. Think Emmilou Harris. Think Clannad (if you really have to). Think Dido. Then take the whole lot and throw them out the window -- this girl outshines the lot. If this girl doesn't hit the big time, there's no justice in the world.

Some have commented that they would like to hear one or 2 acapella songs in her live set, given the stunning performance Cara gives on the unnaccompanied track on the 'Oige' album, but, to be honest, the accompaniment, from Sam on keyboards and Seth Lakeman on fiddle, backing vocals and tenor guitar (how much is that in Euros then Seth?!) is very sparse, with the voice very much to the fore, especially on some of the original pieces such as Falling like a Star. Usually I'm 'disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' when it comes to the sound balance at gigs, but I was really impressed with the way it was handled for this set - not too loud, and the voice up in the mix - so much kudos to the sound engineer, Ian from R.P.A. (who also do Larmer Tree Festival).

The set was a mixture of original and traditional pieces (but very much in her own style) and I think she also covered an Anne Briggs song, 'On the Shore'(?). Some, like 'Maid of Culmore', and 'Blue Moutain River', are from the album recently released (see review on this site), others, such as 'The Winding River Roe', are new songs which they hope to release on a new album out next year (keep an eye on the website www.caradillon.co.uk). Those who know me will tell you that I'm usually 'give me traditional or give me death', but this lot successfully manage to deal with the crossover without selling out. And she did come out with the guys to sing 'Bright Morning Stars Arising' with the Oyster Band right at the end, totally unplugged, which should please all the real die-hards. What can I say? -- Cara, I love you, please marry me and have my babies!

But seriously, it says a lot that even in the somewhat sterile atmosphere of the Wessex Hall, Poole Arts Centre, people coming in noisily throughout, including during the songs, she still managed to keep the atmosphere totally electrified. For a small person, she has a huge presence. And she still had time to come out and sign CDs during the interval, for all the new mad fans she had just made.

Why are you still sitting here reading this? Go and experience it for yourself. After all, as Cara sang in their encore piece 'Broken Bridges', "words don't mean a thing".

And so on to Embarrassing Encounters with folk stars - What's your Encounter number two? Encountering Maddy Prior in the foyer during the interval of a Steeleye Span gig with particularly bad sound, I asked if there was anything she could do about the fact that the drums were so loud that we couldn't hear anything else. Casting me a look of disdain, Maddy replied "they're supposed to be loud. We're a Rock Band not a Folk Band!" Sorry Maddy--I was just dissappointed that I couldn't hear YOU...

And so back to our first embarrassing encounter. Lie down on the couch and tell us all about it, Tara. "well, it's nothing special really. I went to a Sandy Denny tribute band gig in Shepherd's Bush. Vicky Clayton was singing and she has a lovely voice. Anyway, as often happens at gigs, the band was a little late setting up, and so to pass the time, I began chatting to the lady standing next to me at the bar, as you do. Had she seen them before? What were they like? Sandy Denny was a hard act to follow, wasn't she? You know the sort of thing. She said she sang herself. I said, what a coincidence, me too. So then I asked her what she did for her real job. She said she sang. But, you know what I mean..how do you make money? She protested that she sang. And I can see she is becoming progressively more irritated now. In a band? says I. In a band, says she. Folk music? says I. Folk Music, says she. What's the name of the band? I probably won't have heard of them but I'll look out for them in the future...you never know. PENTANGLE she retorts with a flourish. oops. well how was I to know what Jacqui MacShee looked like? Just because I've listened to every single one of her records doesn't mean I've come across her face. Oh the perils of illegal taping of albums - if only I had owned the actual vinyl, how many scrapes I could have avoided!" Thanks Tara, I'm sure you feel better for sharing that with us. And there'll be another embarrrassing encounter next month, so look out.