Hayley McKay brings her original songs, soulful raw emotion and ethereal angelic tones to The British Country Music Festival this September
Hayley McKay Biography
“Likened to Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchel, LeAnn Rimes and Kate Bush!”
Hayley McKay displays an incredible vocal range with a distinctive all-round style, which can effortlessly leap from earthy and soulful raw emotion to soaring and ethereal angelic tones. Hayley has been likened to Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchel, LeAnn Rimes and Kate Bush – just wow! An accomplished and insightful songwriter, she has co-written with twice Grammy-nominated songwriter Jan Buckingham (Whitney Houston) in Nashville, performed in Bob Harris’s home studio for his Under the Apple Tree sessions, and supported such major acts as Tom Jones, Albert Lee, Scouting for Girls, Martha Reeves and Hazel O’Connor. Tom Jones!!
Hayley’s original songs are played worldwide in Café Nero stores, she sang on the soundtrack for Harrigan starring Steven Tomkinson, and performed at Sunday For Sammy at Newcastle City Hall. She is a Prince’s Trust ambassador and performs at numerous charity events. Her songs have also been championed by Paul Sexton (Radio 2 presenter and journalist) with airplays on Emirate’s flights. Hayley’s songs have also garnered strong support on BBC Introducing, receiving accolades for Track of the Week on many occasions on BBC Tees.
A few years ago, Hayley won a National competition, the funds from which enabled her to study at at BIMM (Brighton) and Access to Music in London alongside peer, Jess Glynne! Since then, Hayley has appeared at major festivals including Glastonbury, Cornbury, Latitude, Northumberland Live and Hardwick Live. In 2019, Hayley was the featured artist at The SummerTyne Americana Festival at The Sage in Newcastle. In recent years, Hayley has performed her original songs on RTE, Ireland’s biggest daytime TV show, and STV Scottish TV.
Whether performing with her 4-piece band, solo or as an acoustic duo, this consummate and committed artist can always be relied on to deliver a varied and truly unforgettable show, sparking with energy, emotion and passion. Hayley has been recording new material heralded by her recent cover of Elton John’s Rocket Man, which sees Hayley continuing to push forward creatively and break new ground with a growing confidence and maturity.
“What an epic profile with some incredible accolades! I can’t wait to see Hayley McKay live!”
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Neeve Zahra
Manchester-born Neeve Zahra is a rising UK country music artist known for her unique voice, emotionally rich songwriting, and acclaimed performances that blend contemporary country with a distinct British perspective.
Brittney Spencer
Brittney Spencer, Baltimore’s gift to country music, will bring her magnetic blend of soul-infused country to headline The Empress Ballroom on Saturday Night
Jonny Morgan
Jonny Morgan, the 2024 UK AMA ‘Bob Harris – Emerging Artist of the Year,’ blends ambient Americana soundscapes with heartfelt storytelling, drawing inspiration from both sides of the Atlantic.
Red Sky July
Red Sky July blends stunning vocal harmonies with a signature mix of Alt-Folk, Country, and Americana to create a timeless sound.
Sam Palladio
Sam Palladio, the Cornish-born singer, multi-instrumentalsit and known for his acting role in “Nashville,” will be headlining Friday Night
Janet Devlin
Janet Devlin is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and a notable newcomer to UK country music. Her journey from viral X Factor UK finalist in 2011 to authentic country-rock music artist showcases her musical evolution.
Dan Smalley
Dan Smalley, an Alaskan-born, Louisiana-raised country singer-songwriter, brings a voice of experience shaped by life’s challenges and triumphs to his music. As he overcame adversity, including a life-altering incident, he embraced a path of redemption and authenticity, resulting in a unique sound blending traditional country with contemporary lyrics from lived experience.
Buckle ‘n’ Boots
Buckle n Boots are a UK country music duo known for heartfelt lyrics and rich harmonies. Blending modern country pop with a twist of soulful blues.
Gareth Dunlop
Gareth Dunlop is a Belfast-born singer-songwriter whose music has appeared in popular TV shows and who has written for notable artists in Nashville. His sound blends roots, Americana, country, and pop, showcasing his poetic lyricism and distinctive, powerhouse vocal delivery honed over years of writing and recording.
Virginia Dirt
Virginia Dirt is an outlaw Country/Americana duo featuring lead singer Virgie Lynne and multi-instrumentalist Corrado Cecere. Their unique blend of honky-tonk, rock, and traditional country music positions them as an emerging force in the UK country music scene.