Ireland & UK Tour Dates April, May & June 2013
Rising folk star Sarah McQuaid sets out on tour across Ireland and the UK — see details of dates below.
Pictorial Bio for Sarah + World Wide Tour Dates + YouTube In Derby Cathedral + The Sun Goes On Rising
This
tour sees the acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist taking part in
several exciting collaborations. In Scotland, she’ll be performing a
series of four concerts “in the round” with fellow songwriters Bill Adair & Richard Grainger in Farncombe, Surrey, she’ll be backed on a number of songs by the
tour sees the acclaimed singer/songwriter/guitarist taking part in
several exciting collaborations. In Scotland, she’ll be performing a
series of four concerts “in the round” with fellow songwriters Bill Adair & Richard Grainger in Farncombe, Surrey, she’ll be backed on a number of songs by the
Godalming Community Gospel Choir
and later in June, as part of the Golowan Festival, she’ll be supported
by three secondary school students from the Music MixX programme at
Mounts Bay Academy, where Sarah gave a songwriting workshop earlier this
year.
and later in June, as part of the Golowan Festival, she’ll be supported
by three secondary school students from the Music MixX programme at
Mounts Bay Academy, where Sarah gave a songwriting workshop earlier this
year.
“Being
a solo artist, I don’t often get the chance to perform with other
musicians and singers,” says Sarah, “so I’m really happy to be doing so
much collaborative work on this tour. “I know the gigs in Scotland with
Bill and Richard will be great — I’ve done a couple of ‘in the round’
gigs previously over in the States, at the Bluebird in Nashville and at
Anderson Fair in Houston, and it’s really nice to be able to exchange
ideas and harmonies in a really off-the-cuff, informal way onstage. “And
when Julian Lewry at Farncombe Music Club asked me if I’d like to try
working with a gospel choir, I got really excited — I sang with a
children’s choir for many years and still sing with my local church
choir, and it’ll be a real honour to have the choir in Godalming joining
me on songs I’ve written!”
a solo artist, I don’t often get the chance to perform with other
musicians and singers,” says Sarah, “so I’m really happy to be doing so
much collaborative work on this tour. “I know the gigs in Scotland with
Bill and Richard will be great — I’ve done a couple of ‘in the round’
gigs previously over in the States, at the Bluebird in Nashville and at
Anderson Fair in Houston, and it’s really nice to be able to exchange
ideas and harmonies in a really off-the-cuff, informal way onstage. “And
when Julian Lewry at Farncombe Music Club asked me if I’d like to try
working with a gospel choir, I got really excited — I sang with a
children’s choir for many years and still sing with my local church
choir, and it’ll be a real honour to have the choir in Godalming joining
me on songs I’ve written!”
Sarah
McQuaid’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and
“honey poured into wine” (Minor 7th). A captivating performer, she
seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as
well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes
much more than merely an accompanying instrument. Her musical output
reflects her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in
Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and now lives in rural
England. Refusing to be pigeonholed, she spans the genres with both her
beautifully crafted originals and her interpretations of material from
around the globe and down the centuries. Sarah’s third solo album The
Plum Tree and the Rose has drawn critical acclaim on both sides of the
Atlantic: “Impeccable,” wrote fRoots (UK), while Midwest Record (USA)
called it “low key but glorious and incendiary” and Hot Press (Ireland)
said it “should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs.”
McQuaid’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and
“honey poured into wine” (Minor 7th). A captivating performer, she
seduces her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road, as
well as with stunning musicianship; in her hands, the guitar becomes
much more than merely an accompanying instrument. Her musical output
reflects her own eclectic background: Sarah was born in Spain, raised in
Chicago, holds dual US and Irish citizenship, and now lives in rural
England. Refusing to be pigeonholed, she spans the genres with both her
beautifully crafted originals and her interpretations of material from
around the globe and down the centuries. Sarah’s third solo album The
Plum Tree and the Rose has drawn critical acclaim on both sides of the
Atlantic: “Impeccable,” wrote fRoots (UK), while Midwest Record (USA)
called it “low key but glorious and incendiary” and Hot Press (Ireland)
said it “should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs.”
April 2013
Thurs 18. New Music Club @ Moran’s — Moran’s Bar, 7 Parnell Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Tel 087 291 3484 Tickets TBA — From 8.30 p.m
Fri 19. An Creagán, Creggan, Omagh, Co. Tyrone N. Ireland BT79 9AF
Tel 028 80 761112 Tickets £10.00 — From 8.30 p.m.
Sat 20. The Playhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, 5-7 Artillery Street, Derry, N. Ireland BT48 6RG
Tel: 028 71 268027 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Fri 19. An Creagán, Creggan, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, N Ireland BT79 9AF
Tel 028 80 761112 Tickets £10.00 — From 8.30 p.m.
Sat 20. The Playhouse Theatre & Arts Centre, 5-7 Artillery Street, Derry, N. Ireland BT48 6RG
Tel: 028 71 268027 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Sun 21. Monroe’s Backstage Bar, Dominick Street, Galway, Ireland
Tel 087 978 3245 Tickets €10.00 — From 9.00 p.m.
Mon 22. Ballymore Acoustic Gigs @ Mick Murphy’s, Stage Inn Bar, Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Tel: 086 327 0780 Tickets €12.00 — From 8.30 p.m.
Fri 26. Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul, Fingal, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Tel: (01) 802 0898 Tickets €13.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Sat 27. Walton’s New School of Music, 69 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
Tel 01 478 1884 Workshop Tickets €20.00 — From 1.00 p.m.
Sat 27. Conary Community Arts, Conary Community Hall, Conary, Avoca, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Tel: 087 233 4714 Tickets €15.00 — From 8.00 p.m.
May 2013
Wed 1. Edinburgh Folk Club, Pleasance Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ
Tel 0131 650 2458 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Thurs 2. Falkirk Folk Club, The Tolbooth Tavern, Tolbooth Street , Falkirk FK1 1NL
Tel 07535 097296 Tickets £7.00 – From 8.00 p.m.
“An Evening with Bill Adair, Sarah McQuaid & Richard Grainger
Fri 3. The Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, Stirling, Scotland FK8 1DE
Tel: 01786 274000 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Tel: 01786 274000 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Sat 4. Birnam Arts Centre, Station Road, Birnam, Perthshire, Scotland PH8 0DS
Tel: 01350 727674 Tickets £12.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Tel: 01350 727674 Tickets £12.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Sun 5. Helmsley Arts Centre, The Old Meeting House, Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire YO62 5DW
Tel 01439 771700 Tickets £10.00 From 7.00 p.m.
Tues 7. Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, The Royal British Legion, 7-9 Northview Drive, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 9NG
Tel 01702 347581 Tickets £6.00 From 8.00 p.m.
Wed 8. Wednesday Folk at the Man of Kent Alehouse, 6-8 John Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1YL
Tel 07772 214315 Tickets TBA — From 9.00 p.m.
Thurs 9. Milford Folk Club, Milford on Sea Village Community Centre, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, Hampshire SO41 0PH
Tel: 01590 643404 Tickets £4.50 — From 7.30 p.m.
Fri 10. Hunton Village Hall, West Street, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0RR
Tel: 01622 820683 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Wed 15. Lamb Folk Club, The Lamb Inn, High Street, Old Town, Eastbourne BN21 1HH
Tel: 01323 728268 Tickets £6.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Thurs 16. Uxbridge Folk Club, Uxbridge RNA, 388a Long Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 9PG
Tel 01895 464154 Tickets £8.00 — From 7.00 p.m.
Fri 17. Watford Folk Club, The Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Lower Watford High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 2JP
Tel: 07913 430205 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Sarah McQuaid & Godalming Community Gospel Choir
Sat18. Farncombe Music Club, St. John’s Church, St. John’s Street, Farncombe, Surrey GU7 3EH
Tel: 01483 421520 Tickets £12.00 — From 7.00 p.m.
Sun 19. The Colonnade Bar, 10 New Road, Brighton, Sussex BN1 1UF
Tel 01273 328728 — From 8.00 p.m.
Thurs 23. Ash Keys Music, St Nicholas of Tolentino, Lawford’s Gate, Easton, Bristol BS5 0RE
Tel 07855 826228 Tickets £10.00 — From 7:30pm
Sat 25. South Pool Village Hall, Herring Street, South Pool, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 2RP
Tel: 01548 531304 Tickets £10.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
June 2013
Thurs 6. The Blue Anchor Inn — 50 Coinagehall Street, Helston, Cornwall TR13 8EL
Tel: 01736 786463 Admission Free — Open Session — From 8.00 p.m.
Fri 28. The Acorn Penzance, Parade Street, Penzance TR18 4BU
Tel 01736 363545 Tickets £12.00 — From 7.30 p.m.
Part of the Golowan Festival
Renowned
for her warm, engaging stage presence, Sarah McQuaid is a versatile and
beguiling performer. Her unique voice delivers a powerful emotional
punch that’s matched by her distinctive, eloquent guitar style. In
addition to her own elegantly crafted originals, she interprets
traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs, Elizabethan Ballads,
1930s jazz numbers, surprise covers and lively guitar instrumentals.
Her earthy voice delivers a powerful emotional punch that’s matched by
her distinctive, eloquent guitar style. Add this to a real rapport with
her audience, and you have all the ingredients of a great night out.
Sarah is also the author of The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book, described by
The Irish Times as “a godsend to aspiring traditional guitarists,” and
has presented workshops on the DADGAD tuning at festivals and venues around the globe.
for her warm, engaging stage presence, Sarah McQuaid is a versatile and
beguiling performer. Her unique voice delivers a powerful emotional
punch that’s matched by her distinctive, eloquent guitar style. In
addition to her own elegantly crafted originals, she interprets
traditional Irish and Appalachian folk songs, Elizabethan Ballads,
1930s jazz numbers, surprise covers and lively guitar instrumentals.
Her earthy voice delivers a powerful emotional punch that’s matched by
her distinctive, eloquent guitar style. Add this to a real rapport with
her audience, and you have all the ingredients of a great night out.
Sarah is also the author of The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book, described by
The Irish Times as “a godsend to aspiring traditional guitarists,” and
has presented workshops on the DADGAD tuning at festivals and venues around the globe.
The Plum Tree and The Rose has drawn critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic: The UK’s fRoots called it “impeccable,” Ireland’s Hot Press said it “should feature on many end-of-year best-ofs,” and Germany’s Folker wrote “Diese Frau hat Stil” (“This lady’s got style”). In the US, Seattle’s Victory Review hailed it as “truly profound and deeply emotive …. This is one for the keeping,” while Midwest Record described it as “low key but glorious and incendiary.”
The album was No. 3 on the Folk-DJ Chart for March 2012, and by April was No. 5 on the Euro Americana Chart; in June, it was No. 6 on the Roots Music Report Folk Top 50.
Produced by Gerry O’Beirne (Midnight Well, Patrick Street, Sharon Shannon Band) and engineered by Trevor Hutchinson
(Waterboys, Lúnasa), The Plum Tree and The Rose represents a departure
from Sarah’s previous albums in that nine of its thirteen tracks are
originals.
(Waterboys, Lúnasa), The Plum Tree and The Rose represents a departure
from Sarah’s previous albums in that nine of its thirteen tracks are
originals.
Although
a thread of personal experience is woven into the material, Sarah truly
shines as a teller of parables. Whether she’s recounting the life of
16th century businesswoman Bess of Hardwick or standing in Derby Cathedral
and pondering the immortality of the soul, the specific detail subtly
manifests a universal truth. These are songs that linger in the
listener’s imagination.
a thread of personal experience is woven into the material, Sarah truly
shines as a teller of parables. Whether she’s recounting the life of
16th century businesswoman Bess of Hardwick or standing in Derby Cathedral
and pondering the immortality of the soul, the specific detail subtly
manifests a universal truth. These are songs that linger in the
listener’s imagination.
Catalogue — Available on request to accredited media world wide
The Plum Tree & The Rose (New Album)
I Won’t Go Home ‘Til Morning
When Two Lovers Meet
Crow Coyote Buffalo (As the duo Mama – Zoë Pollock & Sarah McQuaid)
For further information, review copies of The Plum Tree & The Rose, images, live music sessions and interviews contact Pat Tynan