SHE'S young, talented and determined to take the folk genre into a new, exciting direction.

Musical gypsy Cara Dillon, who is living from home-to-home admits that the magic ingredients of her new sounds are down to the music arrangement.

With a pure voice that penetrates the deepest recesses of the emotions, her album boasts a mix of vocals, pianos, accordion, electric guitars, bass guitars and drums.

The great thing is we have recently come off tour supporting Brian Kennedy, says the 25-year-old. We were playing in front of 2,000 people, all young and people didn't realise we were playing traditional songs because of the arrangement.

Cara, who was born and raised in Dungiven in Co Derry, has been singing since she was knee high.

After joining folk group Equation she left with one of its founding members Sam Lakeman a year later, despite securing a major deal.

She has just finished recording her first album, Cara Dillon, with Sam and his brother Seth and says it has turned out better than if it had had major corporate investment.

We are getting successful reviews, she said.

If you are true to yourself then the best work happens.

Cara will be playing Huntingdon Hall, CrownGate, Worcester on Thursday, November 1 at 8pm.

Tickets are £8.50, £7.50 concessions.