Hello there,

Hope everyone is having a brilliant lead up to Christmas!!

Can’t believe this year is coming to an end..and what a year it has been!

I’ve just returned from Nashville and I have so many photos and news to share with you all..so here goes…

Just before I left for Nashville I got word that I received the ACES award (Artist Career Enhancement) from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). So grateful for this! And the perfect send off before heading off on my American adventure.

This award means so much as the support will really help further my career and allow me to release my album, make music videos, return to Nashville in 2016 and much more!

Thank you ACNI 🙂

Soo I left Ireland with a big smile on my face and arrived in Nashville tired but very happy.

Here was my little home for the next month

After sleeping off my Jet Lag I tuned the guitar up and got to work!

I even had this little lady bird helping me with lyrics

It was a busy month!

Lots of meetings with publishers, Co-writes and shows including THE BLUEBIRD CAFE!!!

This was the most special night. The Bluebird cafe is everything people say and more. The audience were lovely and the other songwriters in the round were insanely talented! Loved every moment! Thank you Eleven Eleven Music Group for having me 🙂

Other gigs included another fun Eleven Eleven night in Douglas Corner Cafe.

A house concert

and Hotel Indigo

Ahhh they were all great, thanks to all the friends, new and old, I met along the way.

Lots of co-writing and demo’s were recorded during my time in Nashville and you will be hearing the results of these sessions soon… 😉

I had such a fun, busy, productive time and some of my songs have already been pitched to American artists and American TV/Film, very exciting! Watch this space!

I learnt so much and have arrived home inspired and ready to write and organise my next trip to Nashville. It is a beautiful city, with amazing people and incredible talent. How could you not be inspired?!

When I arrived home my local newspaper The Portadown Times included a lovely article about my trip, the ACES award and whats coming next..

So what is next?!

Finish Christmas Shopping!!! EEkk

Seriously though there are lots of fun, exciting things coming up next year including another trip to Nashville and the launch of my debut album at the Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival. This festival has supported and helped me out so much. Make sure to get tickets for next year 2nd-6th March!!

So please stick around for the next stage of this crazy journey with me!!

I’ll leave you with my favourite things this month:

• Christmas!! Lots of food, presents, family time, watching Home Alone for the hundredth time..whats not to love!
• The Martian – I’ve just finished this book and I LOVED it!! Am dying to see the film now.
• Glen Hansard – What a legend this man is. I’ve been a fan for years and I was at his Belfast show last weekend. He just keeps getting better and better!!
• Chocolate Chip shortbread and tea…Yummm!!
• Yankee Candles..I am such a candle freak..In Nashville I bought loads to make my room feel more like home. The ‘fireside’ scent is the best!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and peaceful New Year.

Lots of love and thanks for all the support!

Ciara 🙂 xx