Singer/songwriter/guitarist Sarah McQuaid is hard at work writing songs for her new album, to be produced by folk icon Michael Chapman – but she still finds time to perform at festivals and other venues in the UK and abroad. See details of dates below.
McQuaid met the legendary singer-songwriter, and guitar sage Michael Chapman (whose January 2017 Steve Gunn-produced release 50 [listen here] has drawn widespread press acclaim) when both artists played the Village Pump Festival in 2014. Since then, he’s become a staunch friend and supporter, even performing as Sarah’s opening act at a local concert he and his wife Andru arranged for her a few months after the festival. Sarah has become a regular visitor to the Chapmans’ farmhouse in Cumbria, and during one visit last year he made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“We were having a chat and a glass of wine, and he said ‘Why don’t you let me produce your next album?’,” Sarah recalls. “I’m glad he said it, because I’d never have dared ask otherwise!”
Chapman has also given Sarah his own electric guitar on long-term loan. “I’ve never played electric before,” she says, “but I’m liking it a lot! And it’s a lovely instrument, a beautiful Ibanez with a gorgeous flamed maple top. My custom-made Andy Manson acoustic will always be my number one guitar, but it’s nice to be able to make some different sounds for a change.”
Born in Madrid, raised in Chicago and now based in Cornwall, Sarah McQuaid has spent the past seven years touring virtually nonstop on both sides of the Atlantic, earning critical accolades along the way. Her most recent album Walking Into White (2015) was reviewed by Folk Radio UK here.
Of one of her USA concerts, The Huffington Post wrote: “Finding treasure feels great, and such is the case with musician Sarah McQuaid. … I’ve attended hundreds of concerts of all kinds, and her subtle mastery onstage launches her straight into my fave shows ever. One voice, one guitar, and the wondrous reminder of the magic of music. Sarah has the gift.”
Sarah’s taking 2017 off from touring to focus on writing and arranging material for the new album, which is scheduled to be recorded in May and released in January 2018. However, she’s still doing occasional concerts and festivals around the UK and elsewhere – see list below.
Sarah McQuaid Tour Dates
Friday 24 February 2017
Pavilions Teignmouth — The Den Crescent, Teignmouth TQ14 8BG, UK
Sunday 9 April 2017
Ards International Guitar Festival — The Queen’s Hall, 18 West Street, Newtownards BT23 4EN, Northern Ireland
Monday 17 April 2017
Falmouth Folk ‘n’ Cider Fayre — Events Square, Falmouth TR11 3QY, UK
Saturday-Sunday 29-30 April 2017
Costa del Folk — Sirenis Seaview Country Club, Calle des Caló, s/n, Port d’es Torrent, San José, Ibiza
Wednesday 10 May 2017
Philleigh Folk Club — The Roseland Inn, Philleigh-in-Roseland, Truro TR2 5NB, UK
Friday 30 June 2017
Penlee Park Open Air Theatre — Morrab Road, Penzance TR18 4HE, UK
Wednesday 5 July 2017
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod — Royal International Pavilion, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SW, UK
Saturday-Sunday 22-23 July 2017
Stainsby Festival — Brunt’s Farm, Stainsby, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S44 5RN, UK
Thursday 27 July 2017
Evesham Arts Centre — Victoria Avenue, Evesham WR11 4QH, UK
Saturday 23 September 2017
Southdowns Folk Festival — Regis Centre, Belmont Street, Bognor Regis PO21 1BL, UK
Sunday 24 September 2017
The Subscription Rooms — George Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1AE, UK
Tuesday 26 September 2017
Rye Arts Festival — Rye Community Centre, Conduit Hill, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7LE, UK
Sunday 15 October 2017
Dreamers Folk — The Sportsman’s Arms, Four Lanes, Redruth TR16 6LR
More details here: http://www.sarahmcquaid.com/tour