Born in 1975 and raised in Dungiven, Co. Derry, Cara Dillon comes from a family steeped in the musical tradition of Ireland. She sings with a clarity, beauty and style that will set people wondering why they might not have noticed her already. It's a phrase often used and rarely so richly deserved; Cara is an exceptional talent.

At 14 years old Cara won the acclaimed All Ireland Traditional Singing Trophy and from there went on to earn her reputation as an outstanding vocalist with the young Irish band, Oige. In 1995 Cara replaced singer Kate Rusby in the new folk super-group, Equation. Kate went on to pursue a successful solo career, but Cara's arrival in the band helped them to secure a major recording contract. Despite this, she prefered to follow her own path and left the band a year later, together with one of its founding members, Sam Lakeman.

Sam, also born in 1975, grew up in a small village in Devon and like Cara, came from a musical background. He toured regularly with his brothers Sean and Seth, releasing his first solo album, ÔThree Piece Suite' in 1994.

Over the past few years Cara's musical partnership with Sam Lakeman has developed at a pace - unusually sophisticated and yet completely unpretentious - their music reveals refreshing imagination and considerable flair and it belies the fact that they are both barely 26. Championed by Geoff Travis, (the man who also discovered The Smiths and manages Pulp, Mull Historical Society and Beth Orton amongst others) Cara recently signed to indie favorites, Rough Trade Records, where her career has taken off.

Perhaps Cara Dillon's unusual level of musical prowess has been enhanced at a very young age by years of touring to rapturous audiences, as well as gaining valuable experience working with producers from both sides of the Atlantic. But - perhaps Cara, Sam and Seth are young artists who provide proof that a certain kind of magic is simply there in the blood.

Cara features on the Ghostland project with Sinead O'Connor and her own dazzling album, mixed by John Reynolds was released to critical and popular acclaim by Rough Trade Records. Cara, Sam and Seth will be embarking on an extensive nation-wide tour, including Celtic Connections in Scotland, throughout January, February & March 2002.

For more details visit Cara's website at www.caradillon.com