A young Galway singer-songwriter who has been making waves on the London music scene over the past year and a half has admitted that she’s more nervous about playing her home city next month than she’s ever been before a gig in the UK.

Julie Hawk, who changed her name from Hough because nobody in England knew how to pronounce it, is thrilled but also a little anxious about playing a ‘home town’ show at the Roisin Dubh on Sunday, April 7.

She grew up in an eclectic musical household on Fr Griffin Road in Galway, but always felt it was important to break free from her roots in order to explore new themes for her songs prior to her move to London two and a half years ago.

“I grew up in Tigh Neachtain,” she laughed over the phone from London this week. “I have been signing since I was tiny and I’ve always been surrounded by music. My Dad, Kevin Hough, is well-known in traditional music circles and I grew up listening to everything from Bob Dylan to The Slits.”

The former Colaiste Iognaid student sang with the Cois Cladaigh choir and the Choral Society at NUI Galway, where she also formed a two piece band with Colin Devaney.

She lists Kate Bush, Sleater Kinney, and choral composer Eric Whitacre among her influences and her achingly beautiful voice has won over hundreds of music fans since she began gigging at ‘open mike’ and showcase nights in the British capital two years ago.

Just this week, she released a gorgeous version of ‘Narc’ by Interpol ahead of her six day Irish tour, to whet the appetites of Irish fans.

Read Julie's full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.