In 1990, at the age of fourteen, folk artist Cara Dillon formed a traditional Irish music band with school friends called Óige. In 1995 she joined folk super-group Equation and signed a record deal with WEA.
Dillon's solo career began in 2001 with the release of her debut album Cara Dillon. Signed to Rough Trade Records for her first three, Dillon released her fourth solo album in 2009 on her own label, Charcoal Records. Included in the list below, in addition to her own, are guest appearances on other artists' releases as well as collaborations and compilations.
Studio albums Year Album details Peak chart positions IREIrish Charts Archive . ChartTrack UKUK Chart Log - D. Zobbel.deUK Chart Log - 2009. Zobbel.de Top 100 peaks: UK Indie 2001Cara Dillon Label: Rough Trade — — — 2003Sweet Liberty Label: Rough Trade 34 116 40 2006After the Morning Label: Rough Trade 50 124 20 2009Hill of Thieves Label: Charcoal Records — 69 7 2014A Thousand Hearts Label: Charcoal / Sony — 42 6 2016Upon a Winter's Night Label: Charcoal Records — — 162017Wanderer Label: Charcoal Records — 89 —2021Live at Cooper Hall Label: Charcoal Records — — —2024Coming Home Label: Charcoal Records — — —"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles and promos "Man in the Rain" (credited to: Mike Oldfield featuring Cara) (1998) "Black Is the Colour" (2001) "Blue Mountain River" (2001) "High Tide" (2003) "There Were Roses" (2003) "Everywhere" (2004) "Never in a Million Years" (2006) "This Time/I Wish You Well" (2006) "If I Prove False" (2008) "The Hill of Thieves" (2009) "Come Dream A Dream" (2012) "Disney Dreams!" "Shotgun Down The Avalanche" (2014) "Bright Morning Star" (2014) "Tern and the Swallow" (2017)
DVDs The Redcastle Sessions (2008) Cara Dillon Live At The Grand Opera House (September 2009)
Collaborations and guest appearances Óige - Live (1994) Equation - Return To Me (1996) (2003) Óige - Bang On (1996) Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells III (1998) - Vocals on Man in the Rain. Ghostland - Interview With The Angel (2001) Equation - First Name Terms (2002) Seth Lakeman - The Punch Bowl (2002) Tommy Flemming - Voice Of Hope (2005) Dickon Hinchcliffe with Cara Dillon - Did You Ever Wonder Why? (2005) Keeping Mum - Music From The Motion Picture (2005) Judge Jules - Proven Worldwide (US) (2006) Seth Lakeman - Freedom Fields (2006) Judge Jules - Ordinary Day - UK Dance Singles Chart #3 (2006) Judge Jules - Proven Worldwide (UK) - UK Indie Chart #40 (2006) Anjunabeats Worldwide 1 - Various (UK) - 2Devine (2006) Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour (UK) - Promo CD (2006) Cara Dillon vs. 2Devine - Black Is The Colour (UK) - Promo Vinyl (2006)
Other Roots & Branch 1: A New World (2000) Ashley Hutchings - Street Cries (2001) Billy Connolly's World Tour of England, Ireland & Wales - DVD Bonus (2004) Other Voices: Songs Of A Room 2 (2004) Various - Rubber Folk (2006) 2006 Radio Ballads - Thirty Years Of Conflict (2006) 2006 Radio Ballads - The Songs Of The Radio Ballads (2006) The Transatlantic Sessions Series 3 DVD (various artists) (2007)
References