An evening with the Queen of Belfast Blues - KAZ HAWKINS

An evening with the Queen of Belfast Blues

KAZ HAWKINS - PIANO & VOICE

On 24th June, we are honoured to welcome back one of the true Queens of the Blues to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre — Kaz Hawkins. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Kaz's voice and artistry are deeply shaped by the grit, resilience and musical heritage of her homeland. Belfast, a city with a storied history of hardship and defiance, gave Kaz not just her accent and spirit, but her profound ability to turn personal truth into song — a quality that has become a touchstone of her music and performance. From the pubs and clubs of her youth to stages across Europe, she carries that Belfast honesty in every note she sings, blending blues, soul, jazz and Celtic inflections into something uniquely her own.

Kaz is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter celebrated for a genre-defying sound that refuses easy categorisation, powered by a voice both fierce and tender, capable of breaking your heart or lifting your spirit in the same breath. Her journey — which saw her spending twenty years in cover bands before finding her own artistic voice — informs everything she creates, giving her songs an emotional depth and authenticity that critics, fans and fellow musicians alike describe as rare and deeply moving.

Her much-anticipated new studio album, Coming Home, released digitally in November 2025 and physically in early 2026 on EarlyBird Records Germany, has been widely praised for its sweeping orchestral textures, cinematic sweep and Celtic-tinged soul, bringing her Belfast roots and European musical vision into bold, new dialogue. Reviewers note the album's profound emotional range — moving fluidly from soul-stirring ballads to rhythmically vibrant anthems — and filled with tracks that shift between pain, resilience and hope with raw emotional integrity.

This powerful chapter in her career was underscored by the acclaimed French documentary Kaz Hawkins – My Life and You — streamed on France.tv — which traces her extraordinary life story, from profound hardship to creative fulfilment. The film captures not just Kaz's immense talent, but her mission to use music as a force for connection, healing and hope.

Beyond her recordings, Kaz's live performances are where her honesty and spirit shine brightest. Audiences and critics consistently describe her shows as unforgettable — performances that feel as much like communal catharsis as concerts. Whether delivering a stripped-back duo set of heartfelt storytelling or fronting her powerhouse quintet with gritty blues-soul fire, Kaz draws listeners into a shared emotional experience that stays with them long after the last note fades.

Driven by her own journey of healing and her advocacy for mental health, Kaz creates safe, emotionally open spaces through her music, giving voice to resilience and reminding us all that even in the deepest blues there is room for hope and joy.

On 24th June, Kaz Hawkins returns to Barnoldswick — and with her returns the raw power of her Belfast honesty, her soul-stirring artistry, and a night of music that promises to be as moving as it is unforgettable.