Folk music star heading to town
A top folk musician is heading back to Ayrshire after she was forced to cancel a performance last year.
World- famous accordionist Sharon Shannon will play a number of dates with Scottish folk heroes Skerryvore in September.
But before returning home to Ireland she will stop off at Irvine’s Harbour Arts Centre for an intimate night of world class musicianship on Saturday, September 9.
Fans of Sharon will be quick to tell you that she is best known for her work with the accordion and her fiddle technique, having played both from an early age alongside her family, while also performing the tin whistle and melodeon.
And her 1991 album, Sharon Shannon, was the best- selling album of traditional Irish music ever released.
As well as releasing her best- selling album, she recorded a version of Galway Girl with US Country Hero Steve Earle that went on to feature in smash- hit film P. S I Love You.
In March 2009, she was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious Meteor Music Achievements ceremony in Dublin.
Her roots are in Irish folk music, but Sharon’s back catalogue demonstrates a wide range of musical influences from reggae, cajan music, Portuguese Museum and French Canadian music.
Her 2009 single What You Make It even featured hip hop artists Marvel and Lady K.
Sharon began her recording career in 1989, and has worked with producer John Dunford and musicians such as Adam Clayton, Steve Wickham and Ayr’s own Mike Scott.
She impressed Waterboys frontman Scott so much that she joined the band for 18 months, adding accordion and fiddle sounds to their 1990 Room to Roam album.
She also went on her first world tour while with The Waterboys.
A musician who likes to surprise, she mixed Irish influences with musical tastes she has picked up from around the world for a truly unique show.
A limited number of tickets for the show, presented by Ayrshire music promoters Plan B Events, are available from the Harbour Arts Centre.
Further details can be found at www. southbeachsessions. co. uk.