Once again the annual Belfast Nashville Singer-Songwriters Festival rolls into town, highlighting the musical similarities and differences between the twinned cities of Belfast and Nashville. The festival, now in its sixth year, was set up as a celebration of song writing and brings the best of Country, Western, Bluegrass roots and, well just about anything else if it sounds good. The Empire is honoured to have been chosen as the venue for an exclusive, intimate night with Nancy Griffith. The gig will be performed ‘in the round’, an intimate arrangement where the performer is surrounded by the audience.

Nancy Griffith started writing songs at the tender age of 6, but it was not until a chance meeting by a campfire at the Kerrville folk festival with singer songwriter Tom Russell that her career kicked off in style. With 18 original albums to her credit, Nancy Griffith is a true giant in the world of contemporary folk.

She recorded her first album while still working as a kindergarten teacher in 1977 before embarking on her full time music career. During the eighties several of her songs proved to be huge hits for other artists, yet her own success proved elusive. After a series of well-received but commercially underperforming albums she grew disillusioned with the country scene and moved to LA. It would be with Elektra, a label with long standing ties to the folk scene that she would truly hit her stride. Other Voices, Other Rooms, a tribute to her many influences, some of whom would appear on the album legends like Emmy-Lou Harris, Chet Atkins and John Prine.

A true grand dame of the Nashville Music scene, Nancy Griffith is a regular visitor to Belfast and a constant sell out whenever she plays.