Catherine McGrath announces biggest tour to date 

• “A hint of early Taylor Swift and a country-pop sound strengthened by serious songwriting chops.” – Rolling Stone
• “She’s gonna be a big star.” – Sir Elton John
• “A promising young artist poised to join the best of the UK’s growing country music scene.”– The Independent
• “One to watch.” – The Times
• “One of the brightest emerging talents in country music.” – Music Week

At a time when country music is exploding into the mainstream with huge collaborations between Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton, and Bebe Rexha and Florida GeorgiaLine, Catherine McGrath is poised to become the first international crossover star from the burgeoning UK country scene.

Recent weeks have seen Catherine continue to soar ahead of the July 27th release of her debut album Talk Of This Town. Her current single ‘Wild’ has earned airplay from ScottMills at Radio 1 and Jo Whiley at Radio 2, and in addition to achieving a 10th consecutive New Music Friday playlist addition, ‘Wild’ was also added to Spotify UK’shuge The Pop List. Catherine recently unveiled the video for the track which, shot in Nashville, reflects on Catherine’s own experiences of going on a date to a Coldplayconcert with a guy who was still fixated on his ex.

Now the young singer-songwriter has announced the details of her biggest tour to date, including the biggest headline show of her career so far at London’s Scala. Catherine’s debut headline show at the Camden Assembly sold-out in days, while her second London gig at Bush Hall tomorrow sold-out within two hours. The dates are:

SEPTEMBER – NEW HEADLINE TOUR:

• 14th – Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
• 15th – Brighton, The Haunt
• 17th – Bristol, Thekla
• 18th – London, Scala
• 19th – Birmingham, O2 Institute 3
• 20th – Manchester, Gorilla
• 22nd – Liverpool, Arts Club Loft
• 23rd – Leeds, The Wardrobe
• 24th – Gateshead, Sage 2
• 26th – Glasgow, Saint Luke’s

Tickets go on general sale from this Friday, May 4th. Catherine’s forthcoming debut album Talk Of This Town was recorded at various locations in Nashville and London, and affirms her credentials as an artist and songwriter to be reckoned with.

Talk Of This Town features three tracks which have each exceeded a million streams at Spotify in the shape of the ‘Cinderella’, ‘Thought It Was Gonna Be Me’ and ‘Just In Case’ as well as a wealth of new material.

Other highlights include ‘Don’t Let Me Forget’, a duet with the American country sensation Hunter Hayes; the anthemic ‘Lost In The Middle’, a celebration of the escapist qualities of country music; and the closing ‘She’ll Never Love You’, a stripped-back ballad which showcases the power and finesse of Catherine’s vocal.

Raised in Rostrevor, a small rural village in Northern Ireland, Catherine McGrath is the personification of how country music is opening its borders to talent from far outside of its epicentre in Nashville. In fact, Catherine was immediately embraced by the community upon her first visit.

Working with a kindred spirit in the shape of producer Steve Robson – a Geordie who became a force within the scene after co-writing Rascal Flatts’ smash hit ‘What Hurts The Most’ – Catherine went onto collaborate with a number of Nashville powerhouse producers and co-writers such as Jimmy Robbins (Keith Urban), Liz Rose (TaylorSwift), Forest Glen Whitehead (Kelsea Ballerini) and Sam Ellis (Hunter Hayes).

Country music is of course rooted in Irish folk, so it feels natural that Catherine is at the forefront of a new wave of country. It’s fitting on a personal level too. Catherine was raised in a music loving family, and has regularly performed at her parents’ spirited Fiddler’sGreen festival, which attracts musicians from as far afield as North America and Germany. And when Catherine was ready to reach a wider audience, she posted covers of her favourite country songs to YouTube which resulted in her obtaining management and signing a deal with Warner Bros. Records.

In addition to her new headline tour, Catherine’s live schedule also includes this week’s headline tour, Radio 2’s The Biggest Weekend, a British Summer Time show as support to Michael Bublé and a selection of other key festivals:

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SHOWs:

MAY

• 1st – Manchester, Deaf Institute (SOLD OUT)
• 2nd – London, Bush Hall (SOLD OUT)
• 4th – Glasgow, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
• 5th – Live At Leeds
• 27th – Coventry, Radio 2’s The Biggest Weekend

JUNE

• 23rd – Isle of Wight Festival

JULY

• 13th – London, British Summer Time (support to Michael Bublé)
• 15th – Oxford, Cornbury Music Festival

AUGUST

• 25th – Portsmouth, Victorious Festival

SEPTEMBER

• 7th – Leicester, The Long Road Festival