A Word From Our Patrons

Paul Brady, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is one of Ireland's most highly regarded and successful artists. 

 

He began to write songs in the early 80s and has since forged a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest songwriters, releasing many popular and critically acclaimed albums.

 

He crosses musical boundaries again and again, incorporating folk, rock, blues, traditional Irish & classic pop styles into his song writing. His songs have been covered by a huge array of major artists from Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Cher, Maura O'Connell, Brookes and Dunne, Joe Cocker and Carlos Santana. 

 

Some of Paul Brady’s best loved songs include The Island, Crazy Dreams, Nothing but the Same Old Story, the Long Goodbye, The Homes of Donegal and Paradise Is Here.

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‘Songwriters enrich the sonic backdrop of our daily lives with the inspired work that they do. What a dull world it would we be without them!

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Often overshadowed by the spotlight on the performer and singer, the annual Belfast-Nashville Festival provides an opportunity to bring songwriting talent to the fore and to encourage talented new writers to join the ranks.’

Legendary song writing duo Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle were chart topping performers in their own right with massive hits including I Wanna Stay With You, Breakaway and Heart On My Sleeve. They have worked alongside stars from Paul McCartney to Eric Clapton and their songs have been recorded by artists including Tina Turner, Art Garfunkel, Bryan Ferry and Phil Everly. 

 

‘The Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival gives the general public, the aspiring and the professional artist an opportunity to experience and interact with performers from all over the world through the art of song. We commend Panarts for having the vision and courage to take the festival to another level by implementing the use of song writing workshops, mentorship, taking music into schools, providing the chance for all to take advantage of these invaluable opportunities. As musicians, staff songwriters at the Beatles Publishing Company Apple, writers and recording artists of some 45 years, we have been unable to identify an educational programme that is comparable with Panarts methods of nurturing, promoting the art and performance of song so comprehensively within the community. ‘