It’s a welcome return for our 2023 Artist in Residence. Taylor Lally grew up near Donaghadee in County Down. For Christmas 2011 she received her first guitar from her father who hoped she would carry on the family hobby of playing music.
She became enchanted with the instrument and inspired by James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Marley started writing her own songs, eventually attending BIMM (British Institute of Modern Music) in both Brighton and Dublin to study music performance, eventually graduating with a degree in songwriting.
When she returned she became been busy performing in Belfast and the North Down area. More recently she has ventured further afield playing support around Ireland to the likes of Steve Forbert, Mary Coughlan, Joachim Cooder and Teddy Thompson.
She was awarded the coveted Artist In Residence spot at the 2023 Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and since then has headlined in both the recently refurbished Bangor Courthouse and the Crescent Arts Centre, selling out both shows.
In 2023 Taylor released a new song every month with all 12 tracks included in a compilation CD that was in released July 2024 and available at her gigs.
‘‘I am finally just stepping into the world.” muses Taylor “After so many years of playing cover songs in bars, studying and writing, no words can describe how that feels”.
‘The singer from Co. Down has been compared to the likes of Ricki-Lee Jones with the guitar sensibilities of John Martyn. She also strikes a chord with her poignant song writing craft. Dealing with themes of growing up in a changing Northern Ireland and healing from heartache … you can’t help but admire Taylor Lally’s impressive knack for pulling our heartstrings’ – Chordblossom journalist, Elle McGinn.
