She’s played at Glastonbury, supported the likes of Tom Jones and Martha Reeves, and won international music awards.
And now County Durham singer-songwriter Hayley McKay is set to bring her incredible vocal range and distinctive all-round style to Gala Durham.
She’ll take to the stage at the Millennium Place venue at 7.30pm on Saturday 28 September.
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “We’re always proud to welcome great talent to Gala Durham but it’s all the more special when it’s local talent like Hayley.
“She recently performed at C2C, the UK’s biggest country festival, at the 02 Arena London and at Glastonbury for the third year running. She’s also been on tour in the US this year and played the main stage at last month’s Hardwick Festival.
“Her voice has been likened to Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, LeAnn Rimes and Kate Bush, which is very high praise indeed, so those in attendance are in for a real treat.”
Hayley has co-written with twice Grammy-nominated songwriter Jan Buckingham, who has written songs for stars such as Whitney Houston and Tammy Wynette, in Nashville.
She has performed in Bob Harris’s home studio for his Under the Apple Tree sessions, and supported Albert Lee, Scouting for Girls, and Hazel O’Connor.
In 2022, her song, Wild West, won International Single of the Year at The International Singer Songwriter Awards in Atlanta USA.
In the same year, she was named UK Entertainer of the Year at The Hot Country TV Awards in Ireland.
Her 2021 single, Wild West, was shortlisted for UK Song of the Year at the British Country Music Awards and reached number 11 in the UK iTunes Country Charts.
It is often played on national radio stations including RTE Radio1, Absolute Country Radio, BBC Introducing, and BBC Big Country Show.
Tickets, priced £16, can be booked by contacting Gala Durham’s Box Office on 03000 266 600 or online at www.galadurham.co.uk/hayley-mckay.
