Gemma Hayes + guests Brona Keogh/ Vega Storm - Live at DLR Summerfest 2024

Welcoming the amazing Gemma Hayes to Dun Laoghaire Summerfest 2024 as one of our headline artists ths year with support fromthe wonderful Brona Keogh and up and coming artist Vega Storm. Limited tickets - Early booking advised!

After accolades at both Ireland’s Hot Press Awards and Meteor Ireland Music Awards, as well as a Mercury Prize nomination, Gemma faced a creative lull, prompting a move to sunny Los Angeles. She re-emerged with her second album, “The Roads Don’t Love You” (2005), and secured the Best Irish Female award at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards in 2006.

Following her second album, Gemma left French indie label Source Records and charted her own path in an industry filled with imagery and gimmicks. In 2008, she found herself label-less but undeterred, self-financing her third studio album, “The Hollow of Morning” (2008), which proved successful in Ireland making it into the top 20 album chart. Despite the album’s success, Gemma faced uncertainties, recording new songs that later appeared on her third EP, “Oliver.” By 2011, she released her fourth studio album, “Let It Break,” in Ireland, followed by a global release in 2012. Throughout this period, she grappled with a desire for Los Angeles but chose to establish roots in Dublin before moving to London, she would late collaborate with David Odlum for her fifth studio album, “Bones+Longing,” which received acclaim upon its release in 2014. RTÉ 2XM confirmingit is “her strongest album” to date.

Taking a hiatus to focus on family and songwriting, Gemma eventually moved home to Ireland to reside in West Cork, Ireland. Ongoing developments in both her personal life and the global pandemic have led to delays in the production and release of Gemma’s eagerly anticipated sixth studio album, originally slated for a late Spring 2024 debut. This yet-to-be-titled album will showcase tracks such as ‘High & Low,’ ‘A Reminder of Another,’ and ‘Feed The Flames,’ among others.

Amidst the recording process in Cork and Dublin, Gemma managed to engage her audience with solo performances across Ireland from 2022 to 2023. Notably, she collaborated with Paul Noonan (Bell X1) and Lisa Hannigan in a trio known as The Trio for some of these live shows. Gemma extended her reach with a UK tour in spring 2023, culminating in the release of the new song ‘High & Low’ in June.

Anticipation continues to build as Gemma is poised to unveil her sixth studio album in late Spring 2024, with ‘High & Low’, ‘Feed The Flames’ and 'Hardwired’ serving as the precursor singles. Fans can expect a fresh and exciting chapter in Gemma’s musical journey with live shows throughout 2024. Her sixth studio album 'Blind Faith’ is due shortly.

Watch this space.

Over the years Gemma has found herself touring Ireland, the US, France and the UK extensively while also taking in countries such as Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Denmark in more recent years. She has also performed at some of the biggest festivals these include Witnness, Glastonbury, Rock Am Ring, Electric Picnic, Montreux Jazz Festival, ATP Festival and many more. During her career Hayes has found her music in a number of television shows on both sides of the Atlantic, her music has featured in critically acclaimed Irish dramas The Clinic and Raw. Meanwhile state-side Gemma’s music has featured in ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. She has also featured on a number of album soundtracks including indie flick Janie Jones, where she contributed to songs with feature in the film. In more recent year’s Hayes has included covers by Kate Bush, The Cure and Chris Issak within her live shows which has helped her gain greater attention outside her fan base. Kate Bush’s Cloudbusting became an instant fan favourite while Chris Issak’s Wicked Game was picked up by US TV and featured in Pretty Little Liars. Hayes has also contributed to other artists albums these include Joe Chester, Printer Clips (Paul Noonan), The Counting Crows, The Cake Sale, Jape, Halves, Magnet, Ann Scott to name a few.