Irish folk performer Sharon Shannon is coming to East Lancashire with her most talented and inventive touring line-up ever. We spoke to band member Dezi Donnelly.

HE has described as the Jimi Hendrix of the fiddle. And Dezi Donnelly is fast becoming recognised as one of the greatest fiddle players of his day - a label he modestly denies.

As a second generation Englishman of Irish descent - and the son of a fiddle player - traditional Irish music is close to Dezi's heart.

His father died when he was just three, leaving him his fiddle for when he was old enough to follow in his musical footsteps.

Dezi said: "I can remember being very young and listening to fiddle music before and after school. I loved it.

"I would put my music on before and after school every day without fail, using two rulers pretending to play along.

"I leaned as soon as I was old enough and started competing when I was seven. I love the fiddle and doing it for my dad makes it all the more special.

"Even now I still have a quiet word with him when I am about to go on stage, asking him to sit with me and help my nerves.

"He hasn't let me down yet."

His parents moved to Manchester from Ireland and Dezi became North West and All Britain fiddle champion by the age of nine. And by 15, he had won the All Ireland championship five times.

He joined legendary Manchester-Irish band Toss The Feather while still in his teens and travelled the length and breadth of the country performing every weekend after the tour bus picked him up from the school gates each Friday.

1997 saw Dezi become runner-up in the BBC's Young Traditional Musician Of The Year and the following year he scooped All Ireland Young Traditional Musician Of The Year award.

The award pocketed won him him IR£5,000 and a recording contract.

His debut album, Familiar Footsteps, followed and he began to take his music to audiences all over Europe.

"I love taking the traditional Irish music to places in the world where it has never been heard before, such as Bangladesh," he said.

"I'm going places with my music that my dad never had chance to."

Dezi has now teamed up with Irish accordion player Sharon Shannon who has worked with the likes of the Waterboys and recently supported Willis Nelson on tour.

Now she has formed a band with Dezi, flute player Michael McGoldrick and guitarist Jim Murray. The group have released an album, Renegrade, and are coming to Burnley tomorrow as part of an international tour.

The Sharon Shannon Band will play Burnley Mechanics on Saturday, September 15, 8pm. Details from the box office on 01282 664400