Part one – LA bound! 

I flew out to LA on the 4th June – and had already decided at that stage to extend my stay by another couple of weeks.  I flew Aerlingus direct to LA  – and it was a dream!  We flew over Greenland and Canada on the way and I was astounded by the beauty of it all
I got into LA that night, rented a car and was on my way!  I was staying in Santa Monica, by the sea, though any time I went there, June Gloom was hanging around and I didn’t get to see too much.   My mission for the week was to do some writing – so I wrote with Alan on Monday, Lori on Thursday, Sandra on Friday and Alan again on Saturday.  I had a gig in Pasadena on the Wednesday and met up with a college buddy on Tuesday – a flat out week that certainly got me used to driving in LA.  

Part two – Idyllwild

After leaving my hotel on Saturday morning, I took to the road to Idyllwild – an Alpine like village at the top of a mountain!  Once I got to the bottom it was a 40mile drive to get me 1 mile high! Saturday night was a house concert in Jen’s and then an early start at the retreat the next day on campus.  The house concert was fab – a gorgeous gathering of people to listen to me and Michaut Perkins before we all headed for the retreat the next day. 

Then the writing began! On Sunday I wrote with Magali, Monday with Mel, Tuesday with Brian, Wednesday with Jen, Thurdasy we polished the songs for our performance that night and Friday I wrote with Dena.  A super busy and exhausting week – but toatlly worth it!  There are some videos of the songs on my facebook page! 

Part three – back to LA!

 adWas super excited to get back to LA to hang out with my friend Jeanie – who I had met in Europe when we were on tour together.  She was a great tour guide and photographer we even got to spend the day at Universal! 
I also got to hang out with and stay with the wonderful Sharlotte – Jambalaya chef extraordinaire!  

Part four – Portland and Seattle!

Part of the reason I decided to stay in the US was because Mark was coming out and playing some gigs (the other part was that I left my job before I left Ireland!)  
​On Saturday we took a train from Portland to Seattle for a great house concert in Teresa’s hippy downstairs living room! 
Then it was back to Portland to settle in with the most amazing hosts!  We were staying with Aoife and Dave and their two kids Lauren and Alice.  Aoife and Dave have been living in Portland for a couple of years, and in the states for about 12. They gave us the most unbelievable welcome and made us part of their gorgeous family for the time we were there, as well as organising some lovely concerts.  Our last one was a house concert in their home – souvenir ticket below! 🙂  We did the Shanghai Tunnel Tour, ate an insane ammount of doughnuts, drank all the good coffee and let’s not talk about the ice cream! 
I had such an incredible trip – I’m already planning the next one!  West Coast – here I come! 

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Biography

Gráinne Hunt is a contemporary folk singer and songwriter, raised in Monaghan and based in Kildare, Ireland. With consistently on-point, captivating vocals and well-honed, insightful songs, Grainne has shared stages with Glen Hansard and U2, has opened for Gladys Knight, Eagle Eye Cherry and the Bay City Rollers, and has been compared to vocal icons Tracy Chapman and Nathalie Merchant.

Her ‘gorgeous new album’ (Mathieu Norry RTE Radio 1), This Secret, was released in September 2019. ‘[A] seamlessly gentle fusion of Irish folk and Nashville backing, together with Gráinne’s gorgeous, slightly throaty vocal delivery’ (FolkRadio.co.uk), it was recorded with Thomm Jutz (Nanci Griffith, Maura O’Connell) and features the skills of Mark Fain (Ry Cooder) on bass and Lynn Williams (John Hiatt) on drums.  

2019 also saw the release of an Irish folk album, Songs from Ireland, recorded with award winning guitarist Brendan Walsh. Recorded last year in Soundville Studios Luzern, it includes songs Buachaill on Eirne and Raglan Road. 

Despite 2020 cancellations, over the various lockdown periods Gráinne performed for the #IrelandPerforms initiative, joined Axis Ballymun for Cruinniú na nÓg & #SummerSessions, founded songwritercircle.club, created the first #AdventCalendarofSong (solo recordings of 24 Christmas songs released on social media every day in December) which included a collaboration with German choir Cantus Domus on a beautiful version of The Wexford Carol, and joined U2, Glen Hansard, and others for The Late Late Show Charity Busk.  

 

Songs From Ireland

Firing Pin

This Secret

Breathe Arvo party Remix