LOVE LETTER TO NORTHERN IRELAND MAKES IT TO GRAMMY AWARDS

Northern Irish hymn-writing duo, Keith and Kristyn Getty, will return to Belfast in June to perform at the SSE Arena following their first GRAMMY nomination for their album Confessio –Irish American Roots, which the couple calls their “love letter to Northern Ireland”.

The Gettys travelled to the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the 65th GRAMMY Awards in February, having been nominated in the Best Roots Gospel Album category alongside world renowned artists such as Willie Nelson, the Gaither Vocal Band and Karen Peck & New River.

Perhaps most well-known for their song In Christ Alone, which Keith wrote on the back of an electricity bill in a converted pigsty at his house in Country Antrim, Keith and Kristyn Getty have written and recorded some of the most popular modern hymns sung in our churches today. Confessio, the album which gained the Gettys their GRAMMY nomination, showcases 15 modern and timeless hymns including renditions of Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace and It is Well With My Soul, as well as their own In Christ Alone and Immigrant’s Song.

It highlights traditional Irish melodies and instrumentation and features performances from an array of guests including multiple GRAMMYaward-winning artists Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs and Kirk Whalum, as well as their daughters making an appearance.

Keith Getty said:“For seventeen centuries here, people have passed their faith and their music on, and we are just another little link in that chain. When we were home during the pandemic, we decided to write what we called our love letter to Northern Ireland. It is an album which looks at the history of music and faith, but in one sense it also tells our story as well. It begins with the Confessio which was St Patrick’s first hymn, and then it finishes with Kristyn and Alison Krauss singing In Christ Alone. Ricky Skaggs came and recorded a number of songs, illustrating the Irish American experience, with the album finishing with more of the Americanstyle hymns”.

“Although we missed out on a GRAMMY Award this time, even receiving a nomination in the first place is a privilege and a huge encouragement to us both, as well as the rest of our team. We are so proud that an album dedicated to our home, and the Christian heritage of the West made it all the way to the GRAMMYs, the ultimate accolade in music”.

Their own rendition of Amazing Grace was recorded in Harry’s Shack on Portstewart Strand during the pandemic, and It is Well With My Soul was recorded at Downhill Beach and Mussenden Temple. A further three songs were recorded in Keith and Kristyn’s carport at their home outside Ballybogey.

Keen to represent Northern Ireland on a world stage, Kristyn wore dresses designed by the awardwinning Newry-based designer, Shauna Fay, on the red carpet. Shauna is renowned for her stunning bespoke designs and ready to wear dresses which have long proven to be a hit with locals. www.gettymusic.com/

The couple’s GRAMMY nomination also came ahead of the Sing! World Tour which will kickstart at Belfast’s SSE Arena on Saturday 17 June 2023 before shows in the Star Theatre, Singapore and the Sydney Opera House, Australia.

The Belfast concert will feature an array of guest artists and the Getty’s band of internationally renowned musicians, all accompanied by the New Irish Arts Orchestra and a mass choir.

“It is always an tremendous honour to play in front of any audience, but there is something incredibly special about performing in front of a home crowd, especially following our GRAMMY nomination for an album dedicated to our home”.

“Northern Ireland has a special place in our hearts; it is where Kristyn and I met and where we return to with our four children each year. We always tell our audiences around the globe that Northern Ireland is the best place in the world, so it is incredibly special to stage the first leg of the Sing! World Tour at the SSE Arena. We hope the concert will be a memorable evening where people can come together to sing their faith”.

As ambassadors of hymn-writing, Keith and Kristyn have performed for presidents, prime ministers, and host sell-out concerts each year at Kennedy Centre and Carnegie Hall, as well as their own “Sing” Conference & Festival which welcomes over 15,000 people to Nashville each year.

Keith and Kristyn now divide their time between Nashville and Northern Ireland, returning to the North Coast in the summer months with their children.