There were two song birds at Tenby's De Valence Pavilion on the eve of St. David's Day, both with wonderful voices - if very different styles.
Cara Dillon is from Ireland, as her music left no doubt. It might have been the penny whistles, the fiddles and the Irish pipes that confirmed it - but it wasn't. Her singing style was Celtic folk, but definitely not the Welsh kind.
There is a sad, bathetic, poignant quality throughout - which is necessary because, as Cara was the first to acknowledge, most of her material, some self-written - is about dire subjects, usually involving feckless men.
For all its Irish tone, Cara has a very versatile voice, giving a very wide scale of notes. Sometimes gentle, soft and low, but changing the next bar to almost a shout - melodic still, but definitely a very strong sound.
Her voice has been described as angelic, but this reviewer found it a bit less innocent than that, and certainly more tragic than positive. It's a rare talent.
I wouldn't say Cara's voice was unique - I've heard other artists (always Irish) similar in technique - but she certainly uses it to stunning effect, and it's not surprising that she has a strong following.
There was also some spirited expert playing from her band of three, fast, furious and toe tapping. One of their number is Sam Lakeman (brother of folk legend Seth).
Also on the De Valence Pavilion bill was Lowrie Evans, a local artist who's familiar with radio and TV audiences. She performs her own songs beautifully. What she lacks slightly in presentation experience, she makes up for with a striking lyrical voice.
There was an appreciative audience for the Cara - Lowrie show, which was a preview of Tenby pavilion's much-loved Folk Festival still some months away.
Next day there were two more impressive folk acts - the Crook Family 'slow acoustic and brooding' and Jim Fox 'with a touch of Irish, reggae, country and soft rock'. The audience loved it.
Malcolm Stacey