Shona Kipling & Damien O'Kane

This duo has been together for three years since meeting at Ethno Sweden. Shona is 20 and hails from Hawthorn Co. Durham, while Damien, 27, is from Coleraine, Co. Derry in Northern Ireland. Shona is a student on the Folk & Traditional Music Degree which is run by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, the first of its kind ever in the UK. Damien became one of the first graduates from the same degree programme in June 2005. An extremely gifted pairing, this instrumental and vocal duo plays an array of traditional and self-penned tunes and songs originating and influenced mainly from the Irish tradition. Shona "Watch out Sharon Shannon, here comes the exceedingly good Miss Kipling" (Yorkshire Evening Press) is one of the leading piano accordionists in the country and Damien "fret king" (MU Mag) is an outstanding tenor banjo player and guitarist as well as being hailed as "one of the finest singers around" (Jon Boden). Shona and Damien make a sound which is exhilarating, passionate, skilful and unique. ("Live, this duo rocks..." – Irish Music Magazine, July 2006). (Saturday afternoon Cross Keys Marquee, Saturday evening Coachmakers Arms, Sunday afternoon workshop and Portcullis Club)

Shona Kipling & Damien O'Kane's website