An intimate evening withBrianKennedy
A NIGHT OF PURE MAGIC WITH THE BELFAST BATTLER
HAVING played the inaugural ‘Hillfest’ music festival in Watergrasshill last summer, multi-award winning singer Brian Kennedy will return to the village on Saturday, December 9 for at gig at the First Fruit Arts Centre.
A successful writing and recording artist in his own right, Kennedy is first and foremost a live performer having sold out venues across the globe with is stunning voice and affable stage presence.
Over a career spanning more than 25-years Kennedy has done it all from singing backing vocals with Van Morrison to performing with ‘Riverdance on Broadway’ to being a coach on ‘ The Voice of Ireland’.
Having grown up in the infamous Falls Road in West Belfast during the height of the troubles, Kennedy has candidly admitted he was fortunate to leave that world behind him.
From harmonising with ambulances as a child to finally overcoming stage fright, Kennedy’s gradual ascent to international stardom has been nothing short of inspirational.
“I shouldn’t have become a singer really, given where and how my life started,” said Kennedy.
“But my voice had other plans and saved me in the end, he added.
Kennedy started singing on the dangerous streets of his home town and at the age of 18 decided to move to London to pursue his musical ambitions.
Busking on the Underground to survive, he was eventually being discovered by the now legendary Svengali Simon Fuller (Pop Idol, Annie Lennox, The Spice Girls).
Through a combination of drive, determination and sheer hard work, Kennedy has gone on to become a multi-platinum selling artist, radio/television presenter, the author of two novels and a Doctor of Letters from the University of Ulster.
However, his first love remains performing on the stage, something that he cites as being the motivation behind staying positive following his cancer diagnosis last year.
“The gigs make everything worthwhile, the fans support means the world to me, if anything the diagnosis and treatment has given me greater focus and determination to get through it all,” he said.
“Music is the ultimate healer and my voice has never let me down.”
His gig at the intimate Watergrasshill venue promises to be a magical night of music and song, with the audience being treated to a set-list of songs from Kennedy’s impressive back catalogue including ‘You Raise Me Up’, ‘Carrikfergus’, ‘Put the Message in the Box’ and ‘Love Life and Happiness’.
Tickets for the concert, priced at €22.50 (plus booking fee), from www.firstfruitsartscentre.ie.