The High Queen Of Cara

Aimee 4OCT19

t was the merrily grouchy Ronnie Drew who always happily stuck up his middle, Cladagh ring-toting finger to what he jokingly referred to as The Folk Police.

Whenever anyone complained about his more eclectic and eccentric output, hey, say hello to my little friend.

Whether it was working with the punk-infused Pogues, the jazz-driven Moving Hearts‘ Keith Donald or PiL’s dub master Jah Wobble, Ronnie knew that all music was folk music.

Given that it was folk who made it all.

It’s an approach that’s there in Planxty, in Sharon Shannon, Martin Hayes, The Afro-Celt Sound System and, of course, in the long and tentacled career of musical nomad supreme, Donal Lunny.

it’s an approach that Cara have been enjoying for 20 years now, over seven albums, about 26,437 tours, and quite a few spontaneous sessions.

With a line-up of Irish, Scottish and German members, is it any wonder that Cara have itchy feet when it comes to exploring the musical landscape? And is it any wonder that they’ve won a truckload of awards for their findings?

As the sun finally returns, Cara’s bodhran player Aimee Farrell Courtney holds court in Cafe Grey to chart the multi-national band’s multi-cultural journey from way back there to The Whale on Friday, October 25th…

You can find out more about Cara on their official website here, and about The Whale right here.