Damien O'Kane & Ron Block Band with The Madeleine Stewart Trio

What do you get when an American bluegrass banjo and an Irish tenor banjo join forces? In the case of Coleraine’s Damien O’Kane and California’s Ron Block… Fireworks!

A spectacular sound like nothing you could ever imagine, a union of transatlantic banjo cultures melding two styles and two approaches creating a life-affirming, uplifting, truly captivating effect. With two bold and highly acclaimed recent albums to his name, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Album nominated Damien thought it was high time to join forces with a musician he had long admired, Alison Krauss & Union Station banjo star and multi-award winner (14 Grammy’s and 6 Bluegrass Music awards, and that’s just for starters) Ron Block.

Widely regarded as two of the greatest exponents of the banjo they have collaborated to create arguably their own genre, Banjophony, something never heard before; subtle, awe-inspiring, energetic and majestic. They also happen to be highly regarded vocalists in their fields and illuminate that in their most recent release. They are joined on stage for this ‘Banjo Party’ with special guests, mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull, master tooter Michael McGoldrick and The Barnsley Nightingale herself, Kate Rusby.

The Madeleine Stewart Trio play traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic, with an energy and enthusiasm for music that brings life to old & new tunes. The trio are Madeleine Stewart (fiddle), Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhran).

This event is delivered in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, as part of their Diamond Jubilee programme.  Celebrating the University’s unique contribution to the world since the granting of a Royal Charter in 1964, the Jubilee explores Strathclyde’s innovative approach to education and research and the institution’s impact on society over more than 225 years since its foundation in 1796, as well as looking to the future and the next chapter of the Strathclyde story.