05/10/2012

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. Pictorial Bio for Sarah + World Wide Tour Dates + YouTube In Derby Cathedral 

  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.

  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. ------ Sarah is currently on an extensive tour of the USA. November 2012

Sun 4. Square Chapel Centre For The Arts, 10 Square Road, Halifax, W. Yorks HX1 1QGTel: 01422 349422 Tickets Advance £11.00 (£9 conc); Door £12.00 (£10 conc) -- From 7.00 p.m. 

 Tues 6. Leith Folk Club Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4NN Tel 07502 024852 Tickets £8.00 -- From 7:30 p.m. 

 Wed 7. Dunfermline Folk Club The Thistle Tavern, Baldridgeburn, Dunfermline, Fife KY12 9EG Tel: 01383 725872 Tickets £6.00 -- From 8.00 p.m. 

 Thurs 8. Crail Folk Club The Golf Hotel, 4 High Street, Crail, Fife KY10 3TDTel: 01333 450206 Tickets £6.00 – From 7:30 p.m. 

 Fri 9. Korks Wine Bar & Piano Lounge, 40 Bondgate, Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 1AD Tel: 01943 462020 Tickets £8.00 Advance (£10 door) From 8.00 p.m. 

 Sat 10. Studio Lounge Totnes FM, Unit A, Scope Complex, Wills Road, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5XN Tel: 01803 862267 Tickets £10.00 -- From 7:30 p.m. 

 Tues 13.Mrs Yarringtons Music Club Senlac Inn, Station Road, Battle TN33 0DE Tel 07794 821454 Tickets £8.00 -- From 7.30 p.m. 

 Wed 14. Wednesday Folk at the Man of Kent Alehouse, 6-8 John Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1YL Tel 07772 214315 Admission Free -- From 9.00 p.m.

 Thurs 15. Half Moon Acoustic Club The Half Moon Pub, 31 North Street, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2LD Tel 07972 025391 Tickets £8.00 adv (£10 door) -- From 8.30 p.m. 

 Fri 16. Chepstow Acoustic Music Club Chepstow Castle Inn, 12 Bridge Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP16 5EZTel: 07870 611979 Tickets £6.00 -- From 7:30 p.m.

  Sun 18. Park Golf Club Park Road West, Southport, NW PR9 0JSTel: 0151 924 5078 Tickets: £5.00 – From 7.00 p.m. 

 Mon 19. Green Note 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7ANTel: 07956 044060 Tickets £8.00 Advance/£9.00 Door – From 7.00 p.m. 

 Tues 20. Bracknell Folk The Sun, 1 Chertsey Rd, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6ENTel 07899 751964 Tickets £6.00 -- From 8.00 p.m. 

Thurs 22 Rothbury Roots Queens Head Hotel, Town Foot, Rothbury, Northumberland NE65 7SRTel: 01669 620470 Tickets £8.00 -- From 8.00 p.m. 

 Fri 23. Northwich Folk Club Harlequin Theatre Bar, Queen Street, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 5JN Tel: 01606 79356 Tickets £7.00 (members £6) From 8.00 p.m. 

 Sat 24. Venue 255-256 High Street West, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR1 3DH Tel: 07846 440627 Tickets £8.00 Advance £10.00 Door -- From 7.30 p.m. 

 Sun 25. The Guitar Studio No. 2 Railway Place, Hertford SG13 7BS Tel: 07972 025391 Tickets £25.00 -- From 4:00 p.m. 

 Mon 26. Tudor Folk Club White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1AG Tel: 01494 775190 Tickets £10.00 Members £8.00 From 8.30 p.m. 

 Wed 28. The Little Theatre on the Green Whorlton Village Hall, Whorlton, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham DL12 8XD Tel: 01833 627419 Tickets £7.00 From 7.00 p.m. 

 Thurs 29. Wark Town Hall & Mechanics Institute Main Street, Wark, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 3LH Tel: 01434 230250 Tickets £7.00 -- From 7.00 p.m.  

 Fri 30. The Cheviot Centre 12 Padgepool Place, Wooler, Northumberland NE71 6BLTel: 01668 282406 Tickets Adult £7, Family £19, Conc £6, Child £4 -- 7:00 p.m.  December 2012

Sat 1. Skirwith Village Hall Church Street, Skirwith, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 1RQ Tel 01768 88234 Tickets Adult £8.50, Child £5, Family £22 From 7:30 p.m.

Sun 2. Armathwaite Old School Hall Nr Church, Armathwaite, Cumbria CA4 9PBTel 01697 472383 Tickets Adults £8, Children £4.50, Family £21 From 7.00 p.m.

Thurs 6. The Blue Anchor Inn 50 Coinagehall Street, Helston, Cornwall TR13 8EL Tel 01736 786463 Admission Free -- From 8.00 p.m.  Catalogue -- Available on request to accredited media world wideThe Plum Tree & The Rose (New Album)I Won’t Go Home ‘Til MorningWhen Two Lovers MeetCrow Coyote Buffalo (As the duo Mama - Zoë Pollock & Sarah McQuaid)