Banjophony: Banjo brothers-in-arms release break out debut duo album

'Banjophony' by Damien O'Kane & Ron Block releases this month

This article is sponsored by Damien O'Kane

THE humble banjo has long been the brunt of innumerable jokes. So here goes: “What do you get if you cross an American bluegrass banjo and an Irish tenor banjo?”

In the case of Coleraine’s Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block you get fireworks – and a spectacular debut duo album that is probably nothing like you could imagine.

Banjo players can be almost apologetic about the instrument popularised in America with its origins in West Africa. Block himself has been known to jokingly describe the instrument as the ‘high school chick repellent’.

But on the either side of the Atlantic, O’Kane and Block decided to stop laughing at banjo jokes – and learn how to play one.

With two bold and acclaimed recent albums to his name – the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Best Album’ nominated Areas of High Traffic and last year’s Avenging and Bright, O’Kane thought it was high time to join forces with a musician he had long admired – Alison Krauss & Union Station’s banjo star and multiple award winner Block (no less than 14 Grammy Awards and six International Bluegrass Music Awards to his name, for starters).

Widely regarded as two of the greatest exponents of the instrument, they have collaborated to create arguably their own genre, something never heard before...

"We coined the phrase ‘Banjophony’ meaning the wondrous sounds of the banjo and decided that described the album well," explains Damien.

"What that means lies within the virtuosity and beauty of the music."

A union of transatlantic cultures, Banjophony melds two different styles and approaches to the banjo to captivating effect. Every note is precise and in exactly the right place, rising and falling with ‘question and answer’ picking and plucking, the light perfectly balanced by the shade – the musicians demonstrating high level connectivity and empathy.

The end result is a sparkling rollercoaster record which showcases an instrument that proves incredibly versatile in the right hands – both showy and subtle.

The banjo brothers-in-arms are joined by a host of top guests including world renowned fiddle player Stuart Duncan – who has performed with artists such as Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Robert Plant and Emmy-Lou Harris.

Other stellar guests from the US include mandolin stars Sierra Hull and Sam Bush while on double bass are Barry Bales and Ethan Jodziewicz. From this side of the pond, the star-studded list continues with the inestimable Michael McGoldrick on flute and whistles, Steven Byrnes and David Kosky on guitar throughout, Duncan Lyall on double bass and Moog and Anthony Davis on keyboards.

Banjophony has already got the seal of approval from none other than revered American dobro player Jerry Douglas.

Jerry says: "Ron Block and Damien O’Kane have created something I have never heard. Even though these two banjos separated by miles of ocean are related, it has taken two people of common sensibilities to bring them so close.

"From my own first landing in Ireland, the banjo style I encountered left me spellbound and I just reckoned that’s where it would culminate into what Damien has made it, exact and toneful while still being the driving force it has always served itself to be."

Life-affirming, uplifting, this is a carefully cultivated collection --not music for the sake of it. More to the point they have succeeded in making two banjos subtle, awe-inspiring and majestic-so no apologies or jokes here - just listen and believe!

Damien and Ron will launch Banjophony at the Rusby family’s Underneath the Stars Festival on July 20 before embarking on a UK tour ending at Cambridge Folk Festival:

DAMIEN O’KANE & RON BLOCK UK TOUR

Saturday 21st July BARNSLEY Underneath the Stars Festival

Website: http://underthestarsfest.co.uk/

Wednesday 25^th YORK The Crescent

Website: http://thecrescentyork.com/

Thursday 26th GRANTHAM Guildhall Arts Centre

Tel: 01476 406158 / https://www.guildhallartscentre.com/

Friday 27th SALTAIRE Caroline Social Club

Website: https://theliveroom.info/

Saturday 28th LONDON Kings Place

Tel: 020 7520 1490 / https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/

Tuesday 31st KINGSKERSWELL Parish Church, Devon