SWEETWATER COUNTY — United Kingdom based singer/songwriter/guitarist Sarah McQuaid sets out on a seven-week coast-to-coast tour of the USA before she takes a year-long break from the road to record a new album.
One of her stops will be a free performance on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at White Mountain Library, 2935 Sweetwater Drive, Rock Springs.
McQuaid was featured earlier this year in the Legends of Rock exhibition by photographer Phil Nicholls alongside his iconic images of Amy Winehouse, Bjork, The Prodigy and Courtney Love.
She has spent the past seven years touring on both sides of the Atlantic, earning critical accolades along the way.
Of one of her concerts last autumn, 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.”
Her autumn 2016 outing will be her final US tour before she takes a twelve-month break from the road in 2017 to focus her energies on writing and recording a fifth solo album, as well as penning a sequel to The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book, the popular tutor she authored on the alternative guitar tuning she uses exclusively.
“I’d like to do a follow-up book that focuses on song accompaniment and that demonstrates the versatility of DADGAD,” Sarah explains. “A lot of people think of it as a specifically ‘Celtic’ tuning, but I write all my songs in DADGAD, and it’s great for all sorts of different genres, from blues to classical music to rock ’n’ roll.
“I’m also very excited about the next album – I don’t want say too much just yet, cos I’m afraid I’ll jinx it if I do, but if all goes according to plan I’ll have a pretty major piece of news about that very soon!
Released in 2015, Sarah’s fourth solo album Walking Into White was selected as Album of the Month by UK publication FolkWords, which went on to nominate it for both Best Album from a Female Artist and Album of the Year. Germany’s Folker hailed it as “Ein mutiges Album mit einem potenziellen Pophit” (“A courageous album that includes a potential pop hit”), while The Musician called it “A work that grows with each listen.”
“The songs are acutely observed and literate, almost like journal notes set to music. They’re measured and tranquil, but they’re never dull because there is always a sense of restlessness and unease behind the poetry…. And it’s all lovely,” wrote Ian Pickles in R2/Rock ’n’ Reel.
This concert is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System. For more information on library programs and events, stop by any Sweetwater County Library System location, visit the library system online at sweetwaterlibraries.com or follow the libraries on Facebook.
