The banjo boys – O’Kane & Block – return for another bout of banjo trickery, tomfoolery and beyond.
Release date: 3rd October 2025
Label: Pure Records
Format: digital / CD
MORE BANJO!
Following up on Banjophony and Banjophonics, the partnership of Damien O’Kane and Ron Block return with an undiminished hunger and thirst for all things banjo. Their passion for banjo creations remains undiminished as a dazzling array of flying notes, telepathic duets and puzzling tune titles come thick and fast. Note that it took me some years to resolve ‘the mystery inch’, so Banjovial seems set to provide hours of fun in unraveling the likes of The Loudest Word and Onion Redemption. There are ‘artist notes’ in the PR blurb and possibly in any accompanying notes tucked into the CD package, but trying to pass on any help, the fun lies very much in speculating…
It might be O’Kane & Block whose names are on the ticket but a supporting cast includes familiar faces who know the banjo score. Josh Clark dons both production and percussion hats and regular O’Kane/Block/Rusby-ites, Stevie Byrnes on guitar and Duncan Lyall on double bass and Moog, are on hand to add the bottom end and rhythms on whihc the banjos can get up to their fun.
Special guest appearances come from both sides of the Atlantic in the form of Ireland’s brilliant button accordionist Sharon Shannon (she plays on Damian’s St Patrick’s Day, written on …St Patrick’s Day… shades of Damian playing at The Met on St Pat’s in 2017 – the tune bleeds from Ron’s gently thoughtful Shabby & Cooky – but we’re getting ahead of ourselves) and American bluegrassers Aubrey Haynie and Tim Crouch.
TUNE TRIGGERS
The tunes come triggered by all manner of kickstarters – comedic events, family and friends, C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles Of Narnia, heart-stopping moments, beloved animals, the craziness of COVID and even cartoon themes. Whatever the backstory, the tunes sway effortlessly from the humorous to the heartfelt and from the quirky to the poignant.
A key emphasis is placed on spontaneity and capturing a live feel with the bulk of the tracks done old school and recorded live by what sounds like an international conglomerate legal firm of O’Kane, Block & Byrnes. Mario Kart Rides Again might well soundtrack a retro computer game, but laiden with some brutally quick fire picking, feels like it might have been honed in the wild west – certainly the perfect cartoon/Hanna Barbera type of concoction that was much a part of the duo’s youth. One that could easily accompany a Wacky Race.
The Battle Of Beruna starts off like it might be a close relation to Damien’s barnstorming Breaking Of Omagh Jail, but doesn’t. It heads out of the Omagh ballpark just as the anticipation of a boisterous rumble is quashed yet retains much of the moody atmosphere of the latter
NO BANJO!?
Ron sings Love Is Like That and after some of the banjo frivolity and shenanigans, the guitar based, banjo free testament to his mother is a sobre departure. Damian also sings. The Loudest Word described as “only the second song I’ve ever written” which has us scrabbling through his work that sits on the nearby shelves, and another subtle delivery that celebrates the power and might of music. (a) it seem she’s right as his reputation as a tunesmith tends to override songwriting, and (b) perhaps he needs a little twisting of the arm to write some more songs!
Plenty of space is reserved Damien’s tributes to his family – both daughters and wife are constant inspirations in one way or another – the combo of Youthful Echoes / Wash And Go & Go And Wash / Rusby offer up a feelgood atmosphere that gives respite from the banjo frenzy.
Onion Redemption turns out to be nice and riffy and comes followed by a little ooh-la-la vibe to Pepé And Speedy – that’s ‘Le Pew’, which may explain the overtly steps of Montmartre and Gallic flavour – that dominates over a more speedy/shredding banjo expectation. Playing out with a curveball, it’s an honour given to a Stevie Brynes tune that works to balance the feelings of both a coming home and a sad fare ye well. Lower key but anrefreshing digestif after what’s come before.
A banjo trilogy now complete? Hopefully not as there must be so many more ‘banjo’ related titles to explore, and no less the number of possible ‘inspirations’ waiting to be allocated a tune or two. Hopefully not too as it’s never anything less than a delight to listen to two masters of the dark art of banjo
BANJO TOUR!
Here’s the chance to catch a bucketload of fun as well as some dazzling musicianship on tour:
Friday October 10 BARNSLEY – Barnsley Civic
Saturday October 11 DUNGIVEN – St Canice GAA Club
Sunday October 12 DERRY – New Gate Arts & Cultural Centre
Monday October 13 GLASGOW – Stereo Bar
Tuesday October 14 BRETFORTON – The Fleece Inn
Wednesday October 15 YORK – NCEM
Thursday October 16 – MANCHESTER – Band on the Wall
Friday October 17 – NOTTINGHAM – St Paul’s Church
Saturday October 18 LONDON – Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith
Sunday October 19 – BARROW-IN-FURNESS – Town Hall
Wednesday October 22 BATH – Chapel Arts Centre
Friday October 24 – OTLEY Courthouse
Saturday October 25 BEVERLEY – St Nicholas Church
Sunday October 26 SETTLE – Victoria Hall
Here’s a snifter of what to expect from from Damien, Ron, Duncan & Stevie, at the folk Prostate Cancer gig in 2019:
Damien O’Kane online: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Youtube
Ron Block online: Website / Facebook / Twitter
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