Audrey McGraw / The Heneghan Sisters – Green Note 17 June 2025

Helen PocockReviews2 Comments

Audrey introducing (L-R) her sister Maggie and Maggie-Mae and Kate Heneghan.

BY MARK DARE

All photo credits to Michelle Fredericks Photography 

I had another trip up to my favourite intimate and multi award winning venue, Green Note in Camden to witness what I was hoping would be a fantastic evening of live music put on by TALENTBANQ and headed up by MC extraordinaire (semi retired)(never!), Ray Jones. This had the potential to be an incredible evening….and wow, did it deliver! 

Opening the lineup were two of the members of Irish country music sibling group ‘The Heneghans’, (Kate Heneghan Music and Maggie-Mae).

There’s a very pertinent line from Charlie Daniels’s ‘Devil Went Down to Georgia’ (amended to suit)…

“And fire flew from her fingertips as she rosined up her bow”

Never could a statement be more appropriate, as Kate moved her bow arm at warp speed at times, and in perfect synergy with her sister Maggie-Mae on the harp, who plucked and caressed the imposing instrument to stunning effect. 

It was a display of impeccable musicianship and during the 40 minute set we had their brand of Traditional Irish Country with a modern twist, with jigs and tunes written 300 years ago right up to current times, including a jaunty familial take on the Beatles’ ‘Here Comes the Sun’…and it was sublime! 

The music elicited much whooping, hollering and clapping from an eager, sold out, crowd…and the excitement was ratcheted even further when the two sisters swapped instruments mid set! They’re both classically trained pianists, and although there was a digital piano on stage, it wasn’t utilised and with the harp being such a versatile instrument it wasn’t needed.  A fantastic opening to the evening!

After a quick break to recharge glasses/reset the stage, we were ready for the main act. In August last year at the same venue the same two artists’ roles were reversed with the Heneghan Sisters taking the headline spot. 

Tonight it was the turn of Audrey McGraw, youngest daughter of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and fast rising star, to close the night out. (It was amazing to see mum and dad and sister Maggie supporting Audrey from the crowd!) Audrey was ably backed up on guitar by the impressive skills of Adam Chetwood

Audrey’s strengths are her unique instrument, her voice, and the songs she writes and chooses to cover. 

But let’s just concentrate on the vocals for a moment…I’m not sure I’ve heard an artist with such total control. She can, and did, absolutely make her voice soar however it’s in the quieter parts of her music, with her voice barely a whisper, where somehow the lyrics are heard rapier sharp. Hard to explain on paper, but it is a remarkable skill….and just so wonderful to witness!  

Audrey played out her 3 singles to date during her set (including her magnificent interpretation of Neil Diamond’s ‘I Am, I Said’) and it was the Diamond penned tune that marked the official start of Audrey’s musical releases only a month ago. 

Setting the bar so high on her musical career by releasing such an iconic classic is brave, however I’m pretty certain ‘brave’ is central within her DNA, and let’s be honest…in terms of hereditary musical chromosomes, she has a jump on most! 

Anyhow, she absolutely smashed it and it sets her future musical course firmly on Audrey’s terms…she’s going to sing what she wants and is not about to be boxed into any genre….and fair play to her, as I have a feeling she’ll be making a huge influence in worldwide music in the coming years. 

There was a pre-release playing of her brand new single “Purple Flowers” (another incredible track) and some intimate introductions to her life in music to date with, I’m sure, many which will be released to the wider world in the fullness of time, including collaborations with Lukas Nelson, amongst others. 

Also, inspirational covers of Stevie Nicks’ ‘Leather and Lace’, and closing with an impromptu Janis Joplin’s  ‘Mercedes Benz’ (with her sister Maggie called up as a special guest vocalist on both occasions).

Though it’s tough (I really mean virtually impossible!) to pick a highlight in a set full of them, I am going to shine a light on her (flawless) Spanish language cover of ‘Cucurrucucu Paloma’…a Mexican Huapango styled tune introduced to her by her boyfriend…it’s a truly haunting number in which the lyrics reference the characteristic call of the mourning dove. 

The lyrics allude to love sickness and I believe that anybody who’d not heard the tune before might be just a little in love with it now! Truly something very special! 

In fact it was a night full of ‘something specials’….a night to remember, a night to savour….a night to say “I was there!” 

Audrey regroups now as she prepares to open for the legendary Brandi Carlile on her UK and European tour (all Sold Out, I’m afraid!) which is going to be a formative and life changing experience for her as the assembled crowds will be listening next at the Royal Albert Hall, in my opinion one of the world’s most fabulous and iconic venues. 

P.S. I wish even more now that I had managed to grab a ticket in time for the tour but I’m safe in the knowledge that tonight I witnessed an incredibly unique opportunity to see Audrey, up close and personal…my cup is full! 

If you’re going to any of Brandi’s tour dates…make sure you get there early!

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