Sharon Shannon comes from Clare on the West coast of Ireland, an area historically steeped in music. She began playing music as a young child and while still in her teens was asked by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, The Field) to provide the music for his stage production of Behan's The Hostage. She began her solo recording career in 1989. The Waterboys’ producer, John Dunford, gathered together a wide variety of musicians including Donal Lunny, Philip King, Mary Custy, U2’s Adam Clayton, Steve Wickham, and Mike Scott. Shortly after this Mike asked Sharon to join him in The Waterboys. This collaboration also involved her featuring in their "Room to Roam" album.

By 1991 Sharon had completed her own album, which included tracks from Stephen Cooney, Trevor Hutchinson and Hothouse Flower’s, Liam O'Maonlai. This album, a stunning cocktail of Portuguese, Cajun, Swedish, Scottish and French-Canadian influences rapidly secured a place in the history books by becoming the most successful Irish traditional music album ever released. Hailed as the "traditional album of the nineties" it was also described by New Musical Express as a crossover record, which "was creative, deft and lovely".

The inclusion of two of Sharon's tracks on the all female compilation 'A WOMANS HEART' which sold a staggering 500,000 copies, increased Sharon's profile but it was The Late Late Show tribute to Sharon which included all the guests from her debut album that made Sharon Shannon a household name. Viewed by over one million people this show firmly established Sharon as one of Ireland's leading musicians.

The release of her second album "Out the Gap" broke further musical boundaries, reflecting the many musical influences, which she has absorbed, and although maintaining her own unique style she expanded her musical versatility by teaming up with veteran reggae artiste and producer Denis Bovell. The album featured a Jamaican rhythm section and a collection of Irish and English musicians including the great Richie Buckley on saxophone. The lead track called 'The Mighty Sparrow' (in honour of the diminutive Caribbean singer) was a favourite with Irish radio stations.

In 1996 Sharon was amongst a host of international musicians including Bono and Adam Clayton, Elvis Costello, Neill and Tim Finn, Mark Knopfler, Kate Bush, Liam O'Maonlai, Brian Kennedy, Christy Moore and Sinead O'Connor to appear on the EMI album "Common Ground". During that summer she returned to the studio to record her own album which, amongst other guest musicians, features a collaboration with Kirsty MacColl on a Grace Jones song. "Each Little Thing", her third album, was released in February 1997. A dance remix of a track called 'The Bag of Cats' released as a single stayed in the Irish top 20 pop charts for six weeks.

Her fourth album, 'Spellbound' was released in September 1998. This compilation featured new material, live tracks and tracks taken from her previous albums. During the same year, Sharon was asked by classical violinist Nigel Kennedy to join a combo of musicians to perform his 'Jimi Hendrix Suite'. They performed this work in some of the major European cities.

Over the past few years Sharon has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe, also visiting Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong and Japan. Her increasing popularity in the U.K. has brought her music to an ever-growing audience. She has played for Irish President Mary Robinson, for Lech Walesa in Warsaw and for President Clinton in the White House. Sharon also accompanied President Mary McAleese on her Australian State visit. In the autumn of 2002 and early 2003 Sharon toured with Sinéad O'Connor's band in Ireland, the U.K and Europe.

Sharon's groundbreaking album, 'The Diamond Mountain Sessions', released in Autumn 2000 took her in a very different direction. Her own accordion and fiddle playing was as full of virtuosity as ever but this time she was accompanied by stirring vocal performances from the likes of Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, John Prine and Dessie O'Halloran from the island of Inishbofin off the Galway coast.

The album went triple platinum in Ireland and was widely critically acclaimed. Sharon and her band The Woodchoppers toured for a year worldwide and it was a recording of the band's performance in Galway that gave Sharon her next album, 'Live In Galway'.

Sharon’s seventh album, ‘Libertango’, featured singers Kirsty MacColl, Sinéad O'Connor, Pauline Scanlon and musicians, Mary Shannon, Jim Murray, Richie Buckley, Steve Wickham, Donal Lunny and many more. Libertango was released in September 2003 and the lead single, ‘What You Make It (da, da, da, da)’, featuring rapper Marvel and Lady K, was a summer radio hit in Ireland that year.

2004 was a relatively quiet year for Sharon, although she still managed a three-week Australian tour and many festivals in Ireland the UK, Europe and the US. The highlights for her were Womad in Reading and Las Palmas. Sharon also performed at State functions in Ireland for many of the European Heads of State during Irelands EU Presidency.

In early 2005 she recorded and released an album with two other legends, Frankie Gavin, (fiddle) who fronted the seminal trad band De Danann for over 25 years and flute player, Mike McGoldrick, from Manchester who has been a member of Capercaillie and Flook and who fronts his own band called Fused. They were accompanied by Jim Murray (Sharon’s long-time sideman on guitar). The material is mostly traditional Irish with a smattering of traditional Asturian tunes, some newly composed Scottish tunes and some newly composed tunes by each of this talented quartet. Gavin, McGoldrick, Murray and Shannon showcased this new material at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, played Glastonbury Festival and supported the Gipsy Kings at Althorpe Estate. The quartet also played a sell-out Irish tour finishing at the National Concert Hall, Dublin in May.

Sharon toured Belgium and Holland in the company of Frances Black and Mary Coughlan in October and took part in ‘A Woman’s Heart’ US tour in November along with Mary Black, Cara Dillon and Maura O’Connell.  Later tours took in Australia and New Zealand, playing Womadelaide, Port Fairy Festival, Commonwealth Games and the Perth Festival.

Sharon blends traditional, world music, roots reggae, bluegrass, country with blues soul and gospel in a very unique high octane approach which will appeal to all. This incredible show which runs for two hours and twenty minutes not only reinforces Sharon’s talent as a top Irish star but also showcases her ability as a producer and arranger.

In 2007 Sharon has already toured the UK (Apri), and has a mass of further appearances planned including the Fleadh 2007 Tour with Willie Nelson, some Summer Festivals, an OZ/NZ Tour in October and an extensive Holland/Belgium Tour in November.  She is also working on her next album which is currently due for release in September.

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