Kaz Hawkins Band wins the European Blues Challenge 2017
Been such a pleasure and honour for us to have played a small part in this wonderful story that is the emergence of grandmother Kaz Hawkins from a credible decades-long career as a covers singer into a multi-award winning, fiercely independent, international recording and touring originals artist, in a very short space of time.
Her debut album ‘Get Ready’ wooed both the public and the critics, winning the Blues Matters Magazine’ Writers Poll Best Studio Album of 2015. To complete a hat trick in the month of September 2015, Kaz also accepted the prestigious Barry Middleton Award for Emerging Artist at the British Blues Awards (the first ever Northern Ireland recipient) and also received the Pure M Award for 2015 All-Ireland Best Female Act at a ceremony in Dublin. The success continued in 2016 with her follow up album ‘Feelin’ Good’ which was the UK Independent Blues Broadcasters Association album of the year, beating Joe Bonamassa.
Kaz Hawkins and the Band won the right to represent the UK at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and European Blues Challenge in Denmark in 2017. The band went down a storm in Memphis and returned home as proud semi-finalists. Last week they headed to Horsen’s in Denmark and WON the European title.
We’re so proud of the guys and in many ways, the journey has just begun. A real good news story and an inspirational, heart warming tale of belief in dreams; despite all the obstacles and difficulties associated with today’s music industry.