Menu
Hegsy is Mark “Hegsy” Hegarty. In 1987, at the age of 17, he was thrown into South Wales’ live music scene when he joined a rhythm and blues band with some of Wales’ most respected live musicians. This developed into a brief career and he toured the UK and Europe, supporting Wet Wet Wet on their Greatest Hits Tour and even a Royal Performance.
On becoming a father and a husband, he ended his music career prematurely to concentrate on a successful award-winning career in the Logistics and International Freight Forwarding Industry.
At 40, his marriage broke down. Then during his mid forties, his thriving corporate career halted as his employer’s business went into liquidation. Life then took a unexpected turn for the worst when, 6 years later, his teenage daughter left home to live with her mother.
His world changed beyond recognition. He lost his identity triggering depression which, left untreated, escalated to suicidal thoughts. His trauma, however, also brought enlightenment and bravery.
He started writing songs to help him to cope, to heal and to grow. His therapy soon become an obsession leading into a new career. At the age of 47 he decided take control, to own his life. He embarked on the project of living a life worth living, a life of truth, breaking free of enforced expectations. He has put everything he has into his music.
Since leaving his corporate career, Hegsy has released 9 singles, 2 albums, produced 2 live shows and produced numerous music videos. He provided the musical soundtrack, and became the subject of a documentary film and now hosts a popular peak time weekend radio show – “Your 80’s with Hegsy”. He holds the World Record for playing 24 concerts in 24 hospitals in 5 days which raised funds and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Charity “Inhale The Music” he co-formed in 2017. In March 2020 he was awarded the Vocal Healer Award and has appeared on US TV Shows discussing his achievements, healing through song and Parental Alienation following an appearance outside Downing Street in London in 2019.
Hegsy wants to inspire others, especially those in Generation X, to never give up on themselves or their dreams, offering practical, learnt advice on coping with mental health challenges.
Hegsy’s band, Hegsy and The Elements, produce Anthemic Celtic-Americana music. This distinctive sound blends the honesty of country music with the tradition of Irish Folk, Welsh Gospel and Americana fused together with Big Choruses rich in harmonies producing a distinctive accessible sound. Lyrically songs are wholesome, passionate and produced with optimism to share, relate and unite.
The single “The Apple of My Eye” has become a Global Anthem Parental Alienation Awareness following it’s release in December 2018. Remarkably, the video helped to reunite separated families in 3 different continents.
In 2019 Hegsy sang at Downing Street in London to support Parental Alienation Awareness Day.
Hot on the heels of the Debut EP “The Rumble”, the new album “My Truths” was produced by Al Steele (The Korgis) and released in the September 2019 to critical acclaim…
“A melodic voice and outstanding production make this a stand out record” – Americana UK 9/10
“Celtic Americana is the in-vogue folk music fusion and Hegsy & The Elements perform with considerable style and aplomb” – RnR Magazine
The Album solidified the distinctive sound incorporating influences from artists such as John Mellencamp, Elton John, Hothouse Flowers, Elvis, Robert Palmer, Richard Marx, Bruce Springsteen and The Alarm.
The Album includes the singles ‘Change You’, ‘My Country’, ‘That Look’ and ‘Waiting For The Soul’ and ‘The Apple of My Eye’. It also includes an new version of the debut single ‘Slave To Fortune’ recorded with Louise Ryan Vocal School, a song that will melt the hardest heart.
In January 2020 Hegsy released an unscheduled single “10 Years”. The song, which celebrated the life of Hegsy’s Dog Daisy, was again released to critical acclaim and provided the seeds to “10 Years: The Show”.
In April 2020, Hegsy released “Earth Angels” (“I’m Believing in Love”) as a way to thank key workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The video featured selfies from Essential Workers all over the world.
In March 2020, 10 days before lockdown, they played at The Celebration of Celtic Americana Event in Cardiff and performed original songs with Cardiff Methodist Choir and Llantrisant Male Voice Choir (one of most respected Male Voice Choirs in The World!!) and Nashville legend Mike Farris.
