American Country Star Kimmie Rhodes & Legendary NI Songwriter Paul Brady To Headline Belfast Festival

THE 13th Annual Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival 2017 is set to feature top acts including American country star Kimmie Rhodes, the legendary Belfast Born songwriter Paul Brady and Irish performer Declan O’Rourke in a line-up that will see more than 100 artists take to the stage in March.

Joining them will be top Nashville songwriter Darrell Scott, Belfast blues star Kaz Hawkins, Bangor songwriter Sam Wickens and many acts to be announced in a packed ‘Belnash 2017’ festival.

In five days – from March 1-5, 2017 – there will be 30 concerts seeing local, national and international artists grace stages in Belfast’s Clayton Hotel and the Empire Music Hall.

Pic: Mick Quinn
Paul Brady | Pic: Mick Quinn

Organiser, and Panarts Director, Colin Magee, welcomed the star-studded line-up as a sign of Belfast’s musical development.

“When we started out 12 years ago to highlight creativity and musically gifted local artists, few could find a venue to perform their original songs,” he said. “Belfast is now brimming with music venues and world-class talent.

BelNash 2017 will feature many ‘Songwriters In The Round’ events, where we link emerging local artists with more established international award winning performers.”

Fan favourite Kimmie Rhodes, best known for her duets with Willie Nelson will also be returning to Belfast after her worldwide tour and recording time with Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris and Trisha Yearwood.

Belfast singer/songwriter Kaz Hawkins | Photo: Debbie Deboo
Belfast singer/songwriter Kaz Hawkins | Photo: Debbie Deboo

For 2017, there will be some new faces, including Mac McAnally, one of Nashville’s most successful writers, who will be performing two shows. With numerous hits to his name, Mac is set to be one of the many highlights of the Festival.

Alongside the thirty concerts, Belfast’s largest music industry conference, the Panarts Song Writing Convention, will host huge artists over two days who will share their song-writing skills with new and emerging local talent.

Music industry organisations such as PRS for Music, IMRO, BMI and Help Musicians NI will be on hand to answer questions about collecting royalties, copyright, income streams for artists and recording and selling music.

Bangor singer/songwriter Sam Wickens | Photo: Debbie Deboo
Bangor singer/songwriter Sam Wickens | Photo: Debbie Deboo

Panarts principal funder is the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, supported by Arts & Business NI and media partners Cool FM & Downtown Radio. Commercial sponsors; United Airlines, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Forestside Shopping Centre, Avalon Guitars, Dawsons Music Belfast and PRS for Music Foundation.

Tickets for the first six concerts, All Concerts Gold Ticket and the conference, 13th Panarts Song Writing Convention are on sale at www.belfastnashville.com Telephone 028 9024 6609 or at the box office, Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Sq North.

THE FIRST 6 CONCERTS

Kimmie Rhodes in concert

Wednesday March 1, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
Tickets £16
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567078

Paul Brady, Declan O’Rourke & Darrell Scott in the round

Thursday March 2, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
Tickets £22
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567066

Peter McVeigh & band

Friday March 3, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
Tickets £6
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567058

Darrell Scott in concert

Friday March 3, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
Tickets £
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567063

Ryan McMullan & band

Saturday March 4, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567070

Kaz Hawkins Band

Saturday March 4, 2017
Clayton Hotel, Belfast
https://visitbelfast.ticketsolve.com/#/shows/873567067

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