by Runs Aug. 25-29
Acclaimed for her “remarkable guitar chops”, Hayley has recently celebrated being listed #1 of the Top 10 Guitar Goddesses by Fender as the notable “Canadian beauty [who] is positively bursting with talent.”
The quintessential chick-with-guitar, Hayley (born Hayley Rita McLean) throws a striking and dramatic silhouette on stage while cradling her Fender guitar, cross-referencing Bonnie Raitt roots-vibes with Keith Urban virtuosity. Time and time again following each performance filled with her dazzling guitar fingering she leaves awestruck audiences asking one simple question “where’d she come from. Sharing her passion for music, she partnered with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation in 2012, visiting camps throughout Canada and leading music workshops with the campers.
Signed to an artist endorsement deal with Fender for a new brand “American Design”, Hayley performed “One Time One Night” at the grand opening celebration of the Fender Visitor Center (Sept. 14, 2011) with legendary Los Lobos and Blues legend Buddy Guy. She is the official face of the brands visitor Centre and Warehouse in Corona, California. The warehouse allows fans to come by, tour the warehouse and make their own guitar by picking the body, neck strings, and other components.
A native of British Columbia, Hayley grew up in a musical, yet somewhat unconventional, household. When she was six years old Hayley’s parents refitted a 45-foot Hawaiian charter sloop and together with her two older sisters, the five took off sailing for two years down the Pacific coast to Mexico. To no surprise, many moons later (in 2005) she became the youngest ‘carded’ (that is, paid by the Canadian Olympic Committee) member of the National Sailing Team, winning gold at the Canada Games among many other prizes and plaudits.
With dad’s old Fender acoustic on board, there was always some form of music being played by this family. The 3 sisters soon figured out harmonies from Beatles tunes to nursery rhymes, and even on their return to Vancouver, summer sailing jaunts always meant music. In marinas around the Pacific Northwest the McLean trio stood on the bridge of a friend’s big power boat and belted out tunes, backed by dad on rhythm guitar, an uncle on drums and Hayley always lead guitar. The festivities quickly grew to performances for more than 500 family members and friends at a fishing lodge on beautiful Quandra Island; they called it The Hop and even created a winter show at a pub near their Horseshoe Bay home. Hayley’s musical dream was born.
In the spring of 2010 a local radio station, Country 107.1 out of Abbotsford, British Columbia was holding a province-wide contest to find the best young talent. Up against more than 100 contestants, following her very first solo performance, she survived round after round until she ultimately won… and what a win it was!
The prize package was nothing short of a music career starter kit. Worth $50,000 CND it included studio time, video / photo shoots, a trip to Nashville for a songwriting session, guest appearances at both the Canadian Country Music Awards and the British Columbia Country Music Awards. Soon thereafter Hayley was signed to MDM Recordings Inc., an international country music distributor and record label. A killer guitar slinger, Hayley has been busy ever since, rocking the country music scene; signing a new deal with Fender; travelling nationwide on tour with Dierks Bentley as Chad Brownlee’s guitarist (also joining Brownlee’s band performing on the national CBC Canadian Country Music Awards [CCMA] televised broadcast) and previously releasing her first 3-song EP “I Am Hayley”. In the Fall of 2011 she performed and competed in the New Artist Showcase at the CCMA’s. She is co-managed by award-winning musician Mitch Merrett (CCMA 2007 Producer of the Year and Juno nominee) and Mike Denney, President of MDM Recordings Inc
