Edwina Hayes numbers Michael Parkinson and Bob Harris among her fans. Her beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-americana. She has opened numerous shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison and the title track of her album Pour Me A Drink was covered by Nanci Griffith who calls her 'the sweetest voice in England'.
Her cover of Randy Newman's Feels Like Home was featured in the Cameron Diaz film My Sister's Keeper and has since had over two million plays on You Tube.
As well as her own gigs, Edwina is often invited to support major artists on tour and over the last few years has also opened shows for Nanci Griffith, Roger McGuinn, Gretchen Peters, Ricky Ross, Loudon Wainwright III, Roy Harper, Tommy Emmanuel, Sam Baker, Julie Fowlis, Sandi Thom, John Tams & Barry Coupe, Daniel Beddingfield, Chris While, Julie Matthews, Tom Baxter, Boo Hewerdine, KT Tunstall, Clive Gregson, Chris Difford, Glenn Tilbrook, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Justin Townes Earle, Isla St Clair, Eric Bogle, Ruby Turner and Lulu.
Edwina appears as a guest vocalist on recent albums by Alastair Artingstall, Christopher Holland, Kate Bramley, Jimi Alexander, Shane Lynch, Joan Coffey, David Ward Maclean and Dan Webster.
Edwina was born in Dublin and grew up in Preston, Lancashire before moving to the East coast of Yorkshire as a teenager, where she has been based ever since. Dividing her time between the UK and America, Edwina's second home is Nashville where she is much loved as a songwriter and artist.
In March 2003 Edwina signed as a writer with Warner Chappell. Her influences include Bob Dylan, Mindy Smith, Ray Charles, Carole King, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith, Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and Bob Dylan.
In 2005 Warner Brothers released Edwina's debut album 'Out On My Own' produced by Clive Gregson and John Wood, and her song 'I Want Your Love' from the album was included on the No.1 bestselling CD 'Acoustic Love'.
In 2008 Edwina released her well received second album 'Pour Me A Drink' on her own label Twirly Music. Nanci Griffith covered the title track from this album on her June 2009 album 'The Loving Kind' and from the same album, Edwina's version of the songs Feels Like Home was played in full in the major motion picture 'My Sister's Keeper' starring Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin. Edwina was invited to perform the song at The Royal Albert Hall in December 2010 at the annual 'Carols With The Stars' charity concert.
Edwina’s third album Good Things Happen Over Coffee was released in February 2011.
Quotes:
Michael Parkinson - 'A very talented young lady'
Nanci Griffith - 'The sweetest voice in England. A wonderful young woman, so gifted and full of song, with a voice as sweet as the angels'
Perez Hilton - 'Like a soft blanket'
The Guardian - 'Haunting honeyed solo songwriter'
Time Out - 'Sweet-voiced songwriter who has a fine line in gentle, country-tinged material'
Virgin Radio - 'A true pleasure watching and listening to this talent at work'
Radio Caroline - 'Not heard a singer, singing live with such natural talent in many a long year'
Making Music - 'A performer in true acoustic style'
Get Rhythm - 'Sweet, honeylike, relaxing songs'
Website: www.edwinahayes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Edwina-Hayes/10811230134
Twitter: www.twitter.com/edwinahayes