A folk singer-songwriter has returned to her roots in Furness as she began her new tour earlier this week.


SILVERWARE Ms O’Connor and dad Dermot O’Connor with the Barrow-district trophy – Award for Achievement in the Borough in 2008 when he was Dalton mayor DAVID HOLLINS Maz O'Connor, 25, who grew up in Barrow, returned to her hometown for the first gig of her new tour for her next album 'The Longing Kind' on Thursday night.

Ms O'Connor, following her performance at The Forum, Barrow, on February 11, spoke about the things she remembers about growing up in Barrow before leaving to study at the University of Cambridge at 18.

She said: "I remember that we always used to go to the Lakes a lot and go for walks, particularly around High Dam and Rydal Water.

"I also remember taking part in YMCA day camps, which were very popular in the area."

Ms O'Connor's mother was a music teacher, and in her school days Maz took part in school band performances at a young age.
Talented Ms O’Connor, second from left, with Amy Hardy, Charlotte Shaw, Joe O’Connor and Chris Faulkner JON GRANGER

She is now living away from Furness, and in 2013 was nominated for the BBC Folk Award's Horizon Award and was selected for a creative fellowship with the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London. 

She said that in the future she would like to move back to Cumbria, adding: "I would like to live in the Lakes some time, in Grasmere or somewhere like that, it's an awe-inspiring place." 

CLICK BELOW TO PLAY SAMPLES OF MAZ'S SONGS:

Derby day

London lights

Mississippi woman