Banjo maestro Damien O'Kane heads for The Rock

UP-AND-COMING folk star Damien O'Kane is bringing his banjo to South Yorkshire for an appearance at The Rock, in Maltby.

Damien is earning a growing reputation for being a creative and exciting musician and singer. His banjo playing in particular has led him to being regarded as one of the finest Irish players on the scene today and he is winning accolades as a singer, focusing on songs from his native Northern Ireland.

He his probably best known for his work with Shona Kipling and Flook but has recently been a full-time member of Kate Rusby’s band.

Summer Hill is Damien’s debut solo album and was released in May 2010 on the Pure Records label. Produced by Joe Rusby and Damien, it features acclaimed musicians Michael McGoldrick, Ian Carr, Aaron Jones and John Joe Kelly. The title track also features vocals from Kate Rusby.

Damien O’Kane is 32 and hails from Coleraine in Co. Derry, Northern Ireland. He moved to England in 2001 to complete a degree course at Newcastle University. He graduated in 2005 and has been performing ever since.

Damien’s musical career has earned him credit as a creative and exciting player and singer and as an excellent teacher of folk and traditional music. His banjo playing has been widely praised and his work with Shona Kipling, accordion player extraordinaire, earned them both a Folk Award nomination in 2007 and their gigs expanded all over the world from Spain to Canada.

Having spent a year with Anglo-Irish super group Flook, his banjo playing took him to many more different venues. Now with a solo career ahead and his work with Kate Rusby, he is sure to continue his success and further his reputation as a superb singer and instrumentalist.

He will appear at The Rock on Friday 25th February at 8.30pm. For more details, call

01709 585977 or visit www.therock.org.uk