Angel in the north
Talented singer-songwriter Edwina Hayes will be bringing her pure vocals and tangible charisma to Tyneside Irish Centre next month… By staff reporter - 21/07/09
Dublin born songbird Edwina Hayes was once described by US country legend Nanci Griffiths as having “a voice that is as sweet as the angels”, Hayes has had the privilege of opening for Griffith (who insists on it) on her last four tours of the UK. You can hear that angelic voice for yourself when Edwina plays the Tyneside Irish Centre on Thursday 20th August.
Born in Dublin, brought up in Preston but now living in Driffield, East Riding, the singer grew up in a musical family; her mum would play artists like Ray Charles, Rita Coolridge, Kris Kristoffersen; she was exposed to all kinds of music while she was growing up. Granddad was also a boogie woogie piano player in Liverpool during the 40s, so you could say music was in her blood.
One of Hayes’ big time inspirations is Carole King. She heard King’s classic ‘Tapestry’ album when she was 18-years-old and still in college, and it inspired the young musician to learn some of the songs an acoustic, and begin playing them for friends. This started Hayes off on the path to becoming a performer herself, and Tapestry remains one of her favourite albums.
Hayes has been a regular performer on the UK acoustic scene since 1999. Her beautifully crafted songs and charisma were honed while living in Nashville, and she has supported names like Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Roger McGuinn.
In 2005, Warner Bros released this un-mined treasure’s debut album ‘Out of My Own’ produced by Clive Gregson and her song ‘I want Your Love’ from the album was included on the No.1 bestselling CD ‘Acoustic Love’.
In 2008, she released her second album ‘Pour Me a Drink’ on her own label Twirley Music. An infinitely more stripped back sound, it features her gentle guitar picking and unrelenting beautiful, crystalline voice, and is reflective of the singer’s onstage style.
Now one of Hayes’ tracks, ‘Feels Like Home’ (a cover of Randy Newman from the album ‘Pour Me a Drink’) has been selected to appear on the soundtrack to the film ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ featuring Cameron Diaz & Alec Baldwin.
“I asked them how they heard the song and they said that the director of the film had suggested it“, said Hayes. Nanci Griffith’s June 2009 album ‘The Loving Kind’ features Nanci’s recording of Hayes’ song ‘Pour Me A Drink’.
When you have your songs featured on radio shows hosted by Michael Parkinson who played her song ‘Pour Me a Drink’ ten weeks in a row (‘A very talented Lady’) and Bob Harris, it is clear that you are dealing wth a supremely talented artist.On record, she is incredible; in person, she’s unbelievable.
Hayes is one of the finest singer/songwriters Ireland and the UK has produced in many years, and is not to be missed. Her third album, ‘Good Things Happen over Coffee’, is coming out later in the year.
Edwina Hayes, 8pm Thursday 20th August, Tyneside Irish Centre, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4SQ, Tel 0191 2610384, Tickets £5/£3. Check out her music on and fid out about other gigs at www.myspace.com/edwinahayes
and www.last.fm/music/edwinahayes.
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