NORTHERN EXPOSURE Damien O'Kane and Beoga in concert

Pure Records presents recording artiste
NORTHERN EXPOSURE Damien O'Kane and Beoga in concert

Coleraine's "Fret King" and brilliant musical export with special guests BEOGA!

DAMIEN O'KANE & BEOGA - Irish 'Nu-Folk' at its best.

Coleraine born Damien O'Kane, a nominee of the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards has been making waves in the folk and acoustic music scene now since 2002. Now based in Yorkshire, England,

O'Kane is best known for his work with Anglo/Irish supergroup Flook, in an award winning duo with Shona Kipling and he currently tours full-time in Kate Rusby's band of merry men on guitar, tenor guitar and banjo! An 'outstanding' tenor banjo player according to The Sunday Express and one of the leading exponents of the instrument around the globe, Damien is also receiving rave reviews for his 'resonant and hypnotic' vocals (Irish Music Magazine), focusing on traditional songs from his native Norn Iron and further afield, and putting his unique O'Kane twist on them.

Expect high energy, subtlety, beauty and playing of the highest order. O'Kane has released several critically acclaimed albums to date, namely 2010's 'Summer Hill' and 2011's 'The Mystery Inch'. The first of which showcases his vocal skills and the latter his exquisite talents on the banjo and which won 'Best Instrumental Album' of 2012 at the Spiral Earth Awards. www.damienokane.co.uk

"O'Kane has certainly set the bar high…" - BBC Music

“A gorgeous record” ✭✭✭✭✩ - The Sunday Express

"He's a formidable player and outstanding interpreter of songs…" ✭✭✭✭✩ - Songlines

Beoga (gaelic for 'lively') are again steeped in the Irish tradition. However, they are not afraid to incorporate other genres' nuances into their music. From bluesy riffs to Astor Piazolla-style jazz, to a raunchy New Orleans jamboree vibe, their music will always returns to a wonderfully bouncy Irish sound. The Wall Street Journal describes them as "the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from ireland this century." Irish Music Magazine writes, "Nobody does this stuff better at the moment. Beoga are at the forefront of the new Irish wave."

Drawn together in 2002, their unique sound features the duelling accordions of Damian McKee and multi-instrumentalist Sean Og Graham, pianist Liam Bradley, four times All-Ireland bodhran champion Eamon Murray and Niamh Dunne, one of Irelands premier young talents on vocals and fiddle. With 4 critically acclaimed albums to their name and a forthcoming album/DVD in 2014, Beoga are a force to be reckoned with.

'In Beoga, the Irish music world found another prodigy.' - Irish Music Magazine