'The banjo strikes back!'

Coleraine musician, Damien O'Kane's 'Summer Hill' has already already won critical acclaim with one reviewer dubbing it "gorgeous songs, blistering tunes".

Damian is probably best known for his work with Shona Kipling and Flook but has recently been a full-time member of Kate Rusby's band.

His debut CD was produced by Joe Rusby, features acclaimed musicians Ian Carr, Dave Kosky, John Joe Kelly and Michael McGoldrick.The title track also features vocals from Kate Rusby.

The album contains songs from Northern Ireland and further a-field as well as self composed instrumentals.

Damian (31) moved to England in 2001 to complete a degree course at Newcastle University. He graduated in 2005 and has been performing ever since.

He comes from a talented family; his mum and dad, Colette and Joe, introduced him to Irish traditional music at an early age.

His brothers and sisters play an array of instruments and the family toured extensively throughout Damien's youth taking them to venues in Iceland, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland.

Damien's musical career has earned him many plaudits as a creative and exciting player and singer and as an excellent teacher of folk and traditional music.

His banjo playing has been widely praised and his work with Shona Kipling, accordion player extraordinaire, earned them both a Folk Award nomination in 2007 and they gigged in Spain to Canada.

Having spent a year with Anglo-Irish super group Flook, his banjo playing took him to many other countries.

Now with a solo career ahead and his work with Kate Rusby, he is sure to continue his success and further his reputation as a superb singer and instrumentalist.