Friday 18th John Andrews Band
After several years playing solo shows in the Belfast area and a chance meeting on a bus with guitarist Joel Irvine in the autumn of 2018 lead to the formation of the band. After joining John as lead guitarist for a few solo shows, Irvine suggested the McCrea twins (Michael and Shea - bass and drums) join them. The twins, liking John’s material agreed, and the two became four in late 2018. “I had been looking for the right people to play with”, says John, “and it all just fell into place”.
With influences ranging from 2pac, Pink Floyd, The Clash, Pixies, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar and sharing a drive to perform John's songs live,
''A handful in his own right, with his mixture of country, rock and hip-hop, the addition of a supporting cast allowed Andrews to share the load and fully cut loose. His gravelly vocals have a genuine element, a real kick to the teeth ethos in them, that perfectly compliments his setlist. – Chordblossom
Since their formation in 2018 the John Andrews Band have been playing shows across Northern Ireland and gaining radio play at home and as far afield as Australia, USA, China, France, and Austria. John’s influences range from 2pac, Pink Floyd, the Clash and his songs are a mixture of country, rock and hip hop, brilliantly performed with energy and his gravelly vocals.
Saturday 19th 'Remembering Nanci Griffith'
Remembering Nanci Griffith
Kerry Fearon, Bernadette Morris, Brigid O’Neill, Janet Henry
Nanci Griffith was a great friend to the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival and performed, over many years, in concert and ‘In the Round’ with local songwriters.
Every year that Nanci came to BelNash she also took part in Panarts outreach programme, in local Primary Schools across Belfast, where she sang and encouraged the pupils to be creative and write songs.
We were deeply saddened to hear that Nanci passed away on 13 August 2021. She was a wonderful songwriter and will be sadly missed but we will always remember her through her wonderful music.
We have four great performers helping us remember Nanci through her wonderful songs.
Kerry Fearon is no stranger to country & americana music. She presented on Downtown Radio and had her own Boots’N’Roots radio show. In 2020 she received an award for her debut album at the Academy of Western awards, Texas. She has since released 3 singles including a Nanci Griffith song from her follow up album.
Building on the success of her highly acclaimed recordings, Irish singer-songwriter, Bernadette Morris continues to wow audiences with her fresh take on traditional Irish folk songs, modern versions of lilting Gaelic laments and her wonderful collection of original material.
Her recent single releases include co-writes with Eleanor McEvoy and Declan Sinnott.
In recent years Brigid O’Neill has gained the reputation as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters. Reviews of her music have shown the gifted artist is one of the most versatile, unique and fearless storytellers on the island. Her music appeals to multiple generations, effortlessly weaving elements of folk, country and jazz into her songs.
In a review about Janet Henry, music critic Colin Harper wrote “To have a world-class voice is a rare blessing; to have world-class songwriting as well is incredible.”
Janet performed twice with Nanci Griffith at BelNash and considers it a great honour to perform Nanci’s music at the festival she loved so much.
Saturday 19th 6pm Noel McClean
Saturday 19th 7pm Alice La
From Newcastle Co Down, Noel McClean started late in life song writing but soon developed a love of the craft. He writes wonderful story songs and performs them with his distinctive voice and style.
If you haven’t heard Noel before, make sure to catch him this time.
Alice LA is a versatile artist dabbling in pop music, with a background in Multi-Media skills and such experimental yet striking visuals that gel well with her music, Upbeat and high energy live shows, a creative exciting ever-changing brand, and Humorous and highly active on her socials, Alice LA has carved out a whole niche for herself and created something unique and spectacular. The new single 21st Century Woman is out today!
She has performed at festivals across Ireland including Stendhal, Sunflower, and Output Festival, performed at a sold-out show in KOKO Camden as part of a Capital Xtra night, and has radio play and support from radio including BBC, Today FM, the Play Irish initiative from IASCA and more.
LA has also recently featured on the BBC Arts Programme performing live for their 'Sounds New program'' and then again appeared on BBC Irish program 'I Lar an Aonaigh' performing. So Far Alice LA has released two singles and a Mini Album that she released in the summer of 2020 which then appeared on the list of the NI music Prizes for best album and many of her singles.
21st-century woman is a vocal and synth-driven pop anthem which is an empowering call for gender equality that asks for "love and kindness" rather than life becoming a competition between men and women in various ways. The 80s drum beat and the rhythm of the synth pulls the listener in instantly along with the quirky vocal chops at the start that sounds very like Scandinavian pop. The break down creates a magical escape, it gives the song space to breath beautifully before building to the point of the song lyrically “just love love love, let's not collide” Isn't that what life is all about? Love and acceptance of each other?