My Yorkshire: Edwina Hayes

What's your favourite part of the county and why?

The East coast, where I live, and the whole triangle between Hull, Scarborough and York. I came to live in Bridlington as a teenager and did my first few gigs in this area, learnt to drive on these roads and just really love it.

What's your idea of a perfect weekend/day out in Yorkshire?

It would involve doing a gig somewhere, preferably three, one each evening!

Do you have a favourite walk, or view?

Oooh no! I'm not a walker. I do love to drive through the countryside and never get tired of country lanes.

Which Yorkshire sportsman/woman (past or present) would you like to take for lunch?

I'm afraid I'm not sporty at all and ridiculously unaware of any sporting personalities, Yorkshire ones or otherwise.

Which Yorkshire stage or screen star (past or present) would you like to take for lunch?

Stage-wise, Kate Rusby. She's performing in a lot of Yorkshire theatres these days, and I love her. She's from Barnsley. I once sent her my Irish Waltz, a new song in an old style, the way she does, but I never heard back.

TV star-wise, it would have to be the lovely Parky. He played me loads on his Radio 2 show and also I sang in his restaurant twice and he talked to my mum for ages about making mushy

peas.

If you had to name your Yorkshire hidden gem, what would it be?

Mine would be Mojo's caf in Scarborough. It's a diner and also a vintage record shop and is fantastic. Another hidden gem is Moonbeams Acoustic, here in Driffield. Moonbeams is a lovely acoustic evening that is bringing great live folk music to the area.

What do you think gives Yorkshire its unique identity?

I think the warmth, humour and glorious countryside make Yorkshire really special. That and the fish and chips.

What about Yorkshire's cultural life?

I'm mostly aware of the music side of things, such as the festivals, gigs and radio shows. The Beverley Folk Festival, in June, is one event I'm really proud to always be a part of.

Do you have a favourite restaurant or pub?

My two favourite local restaurants are in Driffield, The London Bar and The Lounge. I think my favourite pub would have to be The Springbank Tavern, in Hull.

Do you have a favourite food shop?

I'm a Tesco girl. In Driffield, the staff won the lottery a couple of years ago – 11 of them won 18m and promptly all left. It was fantastically exciting. People knock Tesco but they've done really well for themselves, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

How do you think Yorkshire has changed in the time you've known it? Are those changes for the better?

I think the seaside towns have struggled in the years since I moved here. We used to have a family fish and chip shop and caf in Bridlington in the 1990s and it's sad to see the decline of the traditional seaside holiday towns. Recently, the Bridlington Spa received a huge makeover which is a swing back the other way and, hopefully, will attract more people.

Who is the Yorkshire man or woman you most admire?

The Yorkshire person I most admire is Chris, who runs Knight Music in Scarborough. He used to also have a tiny second-hand shop in Bridlington where you literally walked in and couldn't move for musical equipment and instruments.

He's always helped me and countless other musicians with microphone stands, speakers, guitar strings... He's so lovely and unassuming yet has quietly helped all of us out for years and years and I can't thank him enough.

How has Yorkshire influenced your work?

It has influenced my music hugely. When I first moved here I began going down to the Bridlington Folk Club singers' nights and it was there that I first started performing songs in front of an audience.

I moved on to gigs all around the area, and then, after moving away to London and Nashville for several years, I returned and was inspired all over again by the brilliant music scene in York.

My latest album, Pour Me A Drink, was largely inspired by going to open mic nights and gig nights in York, and all the fantastic artists and friends I met there.

Name your favourite Yorkshire book/author/artist/CD/performer…

My favourite Yorkshire performers are based in York and include David Ward Maclean, Laura Hockenhull, Mark Wynn, Dan GT Turbo, Holly Taymar, Aimie J Ryan and Mike Newsham.

They are all amazing singer songwriters. And, of course, Kate Rusby.

My favourite artist is a lady based in York, called Helen Batty.

A painting I bought from her a few years ago was the image I used for the cover of Pour Me A Drink. She's amazing.