CRITICALLY-acclaimed Irish singer Cara Dillon aims to inspire a new wave of folk fans when she performs on the Warrington leg of her UK tour.

The show, at The Parr Hall, will be a chance for Cara and her band, including husband Seth Lakeman, to showcase songs from her new album, A Hill of Thieves.

The singer said: “I’m really looking forward to performing again. We’ve been stuck in the studio for ages.”

Cara claims there is currently a folk revival in the UK, believing that a new generation is discovering the enduring genre.

She said: “Everyone can relate to folk music because of its timeless nature. It is going from strength to strength and it’s great to see more and more young people at our shows.”

Irish folk has often been combined with other music genres, best exemplified by successful performers like Thin Lizzy and Van Morrison.

Cara has experienced this herself when a dance remix of her Black is the Colour single gained a cult following. And she insists that blending genres helps to stimulate support for folk music, not stifle it.

She said: “It definitely does it no harm. Young people came to our shows as a result of the remix and then loved the original when they heard it live.”

Since her humble beginnings in County Derry, the singer/songwriter has found global fame with her critically-acclaimed solo albums.

A darling of Irish folk music, Cara has received many accolades, including Best Newcomer at the Radio 2 Folk Awards 2002 after the success of her self-titled debut album.

But she still points to her performance at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup, in her native Ireland, as a personal career highlight.

Cara revealed: “Singing at the K Club was amazing. It is incredible to think that though the actual performance was to a handful, it was broadcast to over a billion people around the world!”

Tickets for the show at The Parr Hall, on October 9, 8pm, are £14-£16. For information, call the box office on 442345.