Cara Dillon, one of folk’s leading lights, releases her new album, A Thousand Hearts, next month and will be showcasing tracks at Saltaire’s Victoria Hall tonight.

The new release follows Hill Of Thieves, named Radio 2 Folk Album of the Year in 2010. Produced and arranged by Cara’s husband Sam Lakeman (brother of Seth), it features guest vocals from the likes of Timothy B Schmit of The Eagles, American singer/songwriter Aoife O’Donovan and English folk musician John Smith.

The new album mixes traditional and contemporary, loosely themed around affairs of the heart. “We don’t search for material in the conventional sense,” says Cara. “There’s a wealth of songs that I know and over time the songs tend to find me.”

In November 2006 Cara went into labour onstage and went on to gave birth to 14-week premature twins, resulting in a three-year absence from performing.

With an exceptional voice that won her the All-Ireland singing trophy aged just 14, Cara has performed worldwide with renowned line-ups of musicians.

Cara is at Saltaire’s Victoria Hall tonight.