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Tag Archives: Folk

Sarah McQuaid
Friday October 24, 2014

Requested by popular demand, Sarah McQuaidwe were pleased to host vocalist and singer/songwriter, Sarah McQuaid, in a HubCityMusic.com house concert on Friday October 24, 2014.  Sarah kept an enthusiastic audience spellbound with her silky smooth vocals, and engineer Martin Stansbury made his own unique and artistic contributions to the amazing sound.  Sarah McQuaid definitely delivered the most unique voice to the HubCityMusic.com stage that we have ever experienced, and everyone who was in attendance was entranced.  We will be hosting Sarah again in October 2015 for a CD release tour appearance, and you won’t want to miss that return visit!

Coming to West Texas all the way from England, Sarah was born in Spain, raised in Chicago, spent 13 years in Ireland and currently lives with her family in Cornwall, England.  Ireland is where she started her music career, and it is clearly a place that means a lot to her: “I do love Ireland. I lived there for 13 years, my children were both born in Ireland and my husband’s from Ireland.”

Sarah has toured all over the world, in places such as Ireland, England, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and across the United States.

She has released 4 albums, all to great critical acclaim, and has also authored a book, titled “The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book”.

Sarah McQuaid’s voice is amazing, with a range from low and sultry to sweet and high.  In many ways her voice is reminiscent of Carly Simon, as well as Joni Mitchell, and also reminds me of another vocalist from England with incredible vocal range, Julia Fordham.

But of course, despite inevitable comparisons, Sarah is her own artist, with her own unique sound.

A few quotes regarding Sarah:

“Rising star Sarah McQuaid’s voice has been likened to malt whiskey, melted chocolate and “honey poured into wine”.

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.”

Check back here for video clips from her October 24, 2014 HubCityMusic.com house concert.

Listen to samples of her music here:  http://www.reverbnation.com/sarahmcquaid/song/12437827-lift-you-up-and-let-you-fly

Watch this video of her song “The Sun Goes on Rising”:

2nd annual West Texas Folk Festival
Thursday 10/7 – Saturday 10/9

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Tickets available at Ralph’s Records or at the door.

Van and Leslie Shaw are happy to again host the 2nd Annual West Texas Folk Festival, from November 7th through 9th, at their beautiful Uncle Bill’s Music Barn venue in far south Lubbock.  Located behind their residence at 150th and Louisville (one block west of Indiana), Uncle Bill’s Music Barn is in a peaceful and spacious country environment, with a comfortable, inviting interior that is laid out perfectly for musical performances such as this folk festival.

Hoping to eventually reach the status of more prominent folk festivals (such as the Kerrville Folk Festival), Van Shaw recognizes that every giant tree was once a sapling.  “We want to grow this event and make it self-sustaining” said Shaw, noting that last year’s debut event was satisfyingly successful for a first-year event.

One of the keys to that success is the expertise brought to the event by each night’s musical hosts, and Shaw has filled those slots with some well-known West Texas musicians who can not only draw an audience, but have the connections to bring in musicians who can keep that audience enthralled and entertained.  This year’s nightly musical hosts are Mark Wallney (Thursday), Curtis Peoples (Friday), and Jenni Dale Lord (Saturday).  And each of them has brought talented lineups to their respective nights’ performances.   “I just want everyone to have a good time and enjoy great music, in a comfortable environment,” said Shaw.   “I feel the best way to do that is to not micro-manage, and let it take on a life of its own.”

More info:

www.UncleBillsMusic.com or email unclebillslbk@hotmail.com

Details: The 2nd Annual West Texas Folk Festival runs Thursday, Friday & Saturday, Nov.7th-9th, 2013. Doors open at 5:30 each evening, with performances starting at 6pm. Venue: Uncle Bill’s Music Barn, 15002 Louisville Admission $10/person/night ($5/person/night for students with valid ID) Tickets available in advance at Ralph’s Records, or at the door each night of the festival. BYOB for attendees age 21 and over

Festival hosts this year are: Event hosts: Van & Leslie Shaw Thursday’s host – Mark Wallney Friday’s host – Curtis Peoples Saturday’s host – Jenni Dale Lord

Thursday confirmed performers: Mark Wallney, Today’s Special, Sterling Massat, True Blue, Brandon Word, Derek Bohls, Chris Albright, Mike Pritchard, Mark Walney, Darren Welch, DG Flewellyn

Friday confirmed performers: Curtis Peoples, Andy Wilkinson, Dallas Owens, Lori Sealy Concept, Sterling Masat, Pickin on the Plains, Curtis Peoples Collective, Elliot Powell

Saturday confirmed performers: Jenni Dale Lord, Alex Sanchez, School of Rock – Acoustic Ensemble, Hayley Burton Trio, Brian McRae, Wade Parks Band, Kent Mings, Thomas Radcliff