Nashville-based Kieran Kane may have built a formidable reputation as a solo performer and he has written a string of songs that have been recorded by the music industry's elite.
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But there is one thing he no longer wants to be known as.
“The intro that I don't ever want to hear again is 'singer-songwriter Kieran Kane',” he said as he embarked on his current Australian tour.
“I love playing with others. I do like to play in a band situation too, but it's been a long, long time since I played with a full band.”
For his style of music, Kane has found the perfect compromise between playing solo and joining a full-blown band.
With his son Lucas switching between drums and guitar, Kane matches his own acoustic guitar prowess, banjo and fine voice with the angelic singing of Scottish-born Canadian David Francey.
The trio have been playing together a few years but have only just recently decided they are an actual band.
Calling their outfit Go Jane Go, the three musicians are bringing their unique sound to the National Folk Festival this Easter long weekend.
“I don't know what it is, but for me I just try and keep reaching for something that's not repeating myself,” Kane said.
“All within the parameters of country, folk and blues though.
“I like to go deep rather than wide. That's what I do and the types of songs I like to write and play.”
Kane has a strong connection to Australia and has toured here in various combinations numerous times, preferring to play intimate concerts.
During a 2011 tour with his son and Francey, a few songs were recorded as the trio huddled over a portable device.
“We were sitting around a Zoom, shoulder to shoulder, and recorded some shows live and we fell in love with what we were doing,” Kane said.
“I love working here in Australia. The audiences are great here. They seem to kind of get what we're doing.
“And I'm really proud of the songs we have recorded.”
The result is the coolest self-titled album from the three musicians.
There is even a track on the CD called Go Jane Go.
Complete with three part harmonies, the whole album is creatively original, enchanting and musically quite exquisite.
“It's a real joy playing with my son Lucas,” Kane said.
“He never wanted to play with me or in front of me. So when I called him up and asked if he wanted to play a few gigs with his old man I was surprised he said yes.
“That was six or seven years ago. I walked on stage with him and I've never been without him since.
“He and I have a groove and a sense of time that is locked in a DNA kind of way.”
Kane is also very much in sync with Francey, who he first met at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada some 15 years ago.
During a festival workshop Kane heard Francey sing and he immediately wanted to perform with him.
“He was so great that I sought him out and we've been great friends ever since,” he said.
“About three or four years ago we started writing songs together, something that he hadn't really done before.
“But once again, we were on the same page.”
As for the band's name, it was a suggestion Kane gave to his son for a rock band Lucas was helping to form.
“They had no name and I thought a great name would be Go Jane Go and when I told them they loved it,” Kane said.
“But then their band didn't quite happen and so I said I wanted the name for us and they said yeah go ahead.
“It's got no meaning, it just sounds good – and hopefully so do we.”
Go Jane Go appear at the National Folk Festival Easter weekend, where their album will also be on sale.
