HAYLEY McKay has once again put Darlington on the map after she was awarded ‘UK Entertainer of the Year’ at the Hot Country TV Awards in Cavan, Ireland, last week.
Known locally for her regular performances at venues such as The Forum Music Centre in Darlington, Hardwick Live and Sage Gateshead, Hayley has proven that a pandemic cannot hold her, or her music, back.
Hayley performed an original song she released last year called Wild West to a crowd of 1200 people, however, just before she was about to go on stage, she was introduced at UK Entertainer of the Year.
Hayley said: “I was about to go on to perform Wild West with the house band and then they introduced me as UK Entertainer of the Year and I was really taken aback.”
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The awards night took place at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan and was presented with the award from Hugh O’Brian, director and presenter of Hot Country TV.
As country music is so popular and competitive in Ireland, Hayley was not expecting to be recognised for her work as North East English musician.
She said: “There was such a great atmosphere all night and it really was a pleasure to be there. We also got to explore Ireland a bit which was really nice.
“Everyone was really lovely on the night. There was a buzzing atmosphere and all the performers all talked to each other and it was a great way to meet new people and some people had listened to my music on the TV show before.
“It was packed out, the audience was full, the sound was top-quality and it was just a brilliant night.”
Hot County TV is Europe’s longest running weekly television programme, and Hayley was thrilled to have the chance to perform Wil West, which was shortlisted as 'UK Song of the Year' at the British Country Music Awards in London last year.
Other performers included artists including Nathan Carter, Mike Denver, Philomena Begley, Sina Theil, Paddy O’Brian.
Hayley is performing at Hardwick Live again this year with her band on August 20. She will also be performing at the Sage in Gateshead supporting Danni Nicolls on April 30.
Find out more about Hayley’s music by visiting: hayleymckay.co.uk or visit her social media pages @hayleymckaymusic
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