Belfast-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin is currently touring the UK and Ireland in support of her much-anticipated second album, Next of Kin, released in January this year.
The record has arrived to widespread critical acclaim, with Mojo describing it as a “transformational experience.” The Irish Times and Hot Press have added their praise, while songs from the album have been playlisted across RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 6 Music — a trifecta that underlines Larkin’s standing as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary folk.
Larkin first announced herself to international audiences with her debut album, Notes for a Maiden Warrior (2021), which earned widespread critical recognition and led to performances at SXSW and WOMEX, as well as support tours alongside Snow Patrol, Lisa O’Neill, Glen Hansard, Ye Vagabonds and Rufus Wainwright. Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody has described her as “one of the finest songwriters of our times.”
That debut’s success opened doors to collaborations with both the Ulster Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, resulting in Between Worlds (2022), which saw Larkin perform on national television pushing the boundaries of orchestral folk. Her third release, Walking With Natives (2023), took her on headline tours across Australia, South Korea, Finland, Canada, Ireland and the UK, culminating in a run of sold-out shows at the Irish Arts Centre in New York City.
A profound performance at the RTÉ Folk Awards further cemented her reputation as a must-see live act. She has made television appearances on BBC One, Virgin Media Ireland’s Fanning at Whelan’s and Canada’s CTV, and has been heard on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and RTÉ Radio 1.
Larkin’s name has increasingly been invoked alongside artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and Adrienne Lenker — a measure of the ambition and emotional depth she brings to the modern folk canon.