Artists come out in force to get Adele to Nashville

Adele Ingram, (41), a member of Belfast group Wookalily, will be performing her song, ‘Diamonds and Gold’ to award-winning songwriters at The World of Bluegrass Festival in Nashville later this month, but in order to get to the States, she needs to raise around £1,500 to fund the trip at short notice.

And to help pay for her jaunt across the Atlantic on September 23, up-and-coming comedians are banding together for one night only to perform at ‘FUNraiser’ in Lurgan Town Hall on Sunday at 6pm. On the bill is Micky Bartlett, who starred in BBC NI’s ‘Find Me the Funny, Leigh Stirrup, Conor McGinley, Paddy McGaughey and special guests, poet Dan Eggs and Lough Neagh Writers’ Group.

Adele says that she has been “amazed” by the support shown by well-wishers who are offering to help sponsor her. “I’ve been surprised by the amount of support that’s been shown. People have been, really supportive and really nice - not even financially - just the kindness that’s been shown.”

Her self-proclaimed “soppy” song, which Adele says is about “not needing anything other than love”, will be one of ten songs played to high-profile industry players - including Tom T. Hall who has written tracks for Country music legend, Johnny Cash. The Wookalily singer, who will perform ‘Diamonds and Gold’ along with a fellow band member, adds that they will be the only musicians from Ireland to participate in the showcase. “It’s a real privilege. The band was invited earlier on this year to record with Tom T. Hall for the Daughters of Bluegrass album which features 90 musicians in all.

“The showcase isn’t a competition where singer is competing against singer. Instead it’s about record labels looking for new material for major recording artists who necessarily don’t write for themselves.”

Bluegrass fans can get a taster of what awaits Nashville when Adele takes to the stage at Portadown’s Country Comes To Town festival on Saturday from 11.30am. She will also be performing afterwards at a concert in the Millennium Court Arts Centre (MCAC) at 3pm.

Adele would like to thank MCAC, Team Solutionz Ltd and teh Old Flattop Music Club for sponsorship. Anyone keen to offer Adele her help can contact her via e-mail on: [email protected] or visit www.getadeletonashville.moonfruit.com.

Tickets for FUNraiser are £5 and can be purchased from Millennium Court Arts Centre, Portadown, Lurgan Town Hall and PJ McConville Shoe Shop, North St, Lurgan.