UK Blues Awards 2024 UK Emerging Act of The Year nominee ‘Connolly Hayes’ comprises Jess Hayes, Frankie Connolly, Richard Clarke, Beau Barnard and Andy Wilder. 5 long-time friends playing a carefully curated blend of blues/rock/soul nationwide and further. 

Jess and Frankie had already been making waves on the UK blues scene with their respective own projects, but in the summer of 2023, following a performance at the legendary Isle of Wight festival, the decision was made to combine the bands and start writing and recording new, original music.

Amplifying Jess and Frankie’s dynamic vocal harmony and musicianship, they enlisted Richard Clarke, a seasoned figure in the blues community, to join them on second guitar, alongside the familiar presence of Beau Barnard on bass, and the rhythm machine that is Andy Wilder on drums.

Gathering inspiration from band favourites, such as Bros Landreth, Tedeschi Trucks, Marcus King and Chris Stapleton (to name a few!), the group embarked on the task of crafting and recording new material in late 2023.

April 2024 will see the release of their eagerly anticipated debut album. Fans are to expect a warm combination of gritty blues, smooth soul and crunching rock.

The band already has a stellar reputation for live performances with the blend of two of the most soulful voices around, guitar wizardry from both sides of the stage and the grooviest rhythm section going.

Connolly Hayes’ name is already appearing on many of the UK’s festival listings this year and they are due to tour Europe in the Autumn.

Get on board early, you won’t want to miss out. It should be quite the ride!