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25/01/07 www.allfm.org Tonight was cool because Paul Heaton (of The Beautiful South) played one of my tunes. This is a Manchester Community radio station with THE MOG AND PAUL HEATON SHOW 7pm-9pm (Music, sweet music). They have a brand new myspace page: www.myspace.com/allfmfortherecord Paul Heaton certainly seems to have his finger on the pulse of good new music. ; - ) This is not all. I have another internationally accliamed fan by the name of Miles Hunt (remember the Wonderstuff)? He emailed me to say he thinks my album is (and I quote) 'f****** superb'. It's been a good day. Anyone up North? I am going to play the Song07 Festival on July 28th in Huddersfield. This is run by Beautiful South band member Steady and promises to be a big and beautiful weekend. Hope you will come and support me. www.myspace.com/song07festival Isn't music great? What on earth is it anyway?
By the way I think I am MADLY in love with The Divine Comedy all of a sudden. How on earth did I overlook it before? I'm not sure how to end this now so I'm just going to keep typing until it wont take any more chara
These 3 tracks simply have me, my guitar and a string quartet. Later on, these tracks will form part of my new album which should be available by Summer, whereupon I shall be on tour. Helping with the album will be engineers Tim Edwards and Andy Crawley and Producer Martin Atkinson (Katie Buckhaven's producer). I recorded the 3 tracks above with Andy and I met both Tim and Martin when I played support for Katie Buckhaven at the Stables. This was an amazing gig for me because it was the first theatre venue I've played solo and it felt great. The Stables is just ACE. TOUR: I'm also very pleased to be booked up for some return trips to Marburg in Germany. It's been a while. I can't wait. LEO SAYER Now, this weekend I have 4 gigs so I'm going to go and practise some songs. My mum recently gave me 3 great big cardboard boxes of old LPs. Magic! Been listening to Leo Sayer today. 'You make me feel like dancing'.... x
Okey dokey, I thought it was about time I let you know what Ive been up to lately. Firstly, if the print isnt too small, read this stuff below about the Stables Singer Songwriter Programme. This is run by an awesome bunch from the Stables, Wavendon, Milton Keynes. (This is an arts and education venue set up by Cleo Lane and Johnny Dankworth with a strong patron of the arts type ethic see THE STABLES). They got together some funds from a charitable trust (The Leverhulme Trust) to set up a programme to help out some talented singer/songwriters. Hundreds of people applied and guess what, I got a place! Its the most positive, magical and helpful environment Ive encountered in a long time, with some truly great and inspiring people on the list to come and talk to and encourage us and give us a creative space to play around in. Im sure I speak for all 5 of us when I say we are learning loads from each other. You can also read more about it if you click on THE STABLES COLLECTIVE in my friends. The people involved include John Bowman and Polly Rolf at the Stables, David Knopfler, Cara Dillon and Boo Hewerdine (See my friends to read about them), amongst others. So, heres the blurb: OK. So you can't see the pictures can you? Sorry! I don't know what I did wrong. However, you can easily view them in a bit by going to 'my pics'. Does anyone have any tips on how to make these appear in my blog? You may also have noticed that I haven't gigged much in recent months and that I don't have any gigs booked until September this year. The reason for this is that I really wanted to write new material and felt I had to have a break from gigging to confront whatever was stopping me from doing that. The good news is, I've started writing again. I don't want to gig the new stuff though until I have a fully rounded set with my new band line up which will be me, a cellist, hopefully a violinist too, and some backing vocals and maybe the odd bit of hand percussion. I've found the perfect person for the Cellist job (Anna Frazier) but am now on the look out for a violinist (hopefully local to Northampton) who can also sing backing vocals. Know anyone who might be interested? Multi instrumentalists especially welcome. I also intend to give my web site and MySpace page a massive overhaul. Anyone who's visited my web page recently may well have wondered whether a web site had ever before been left un-updated for so long. Well, it still is like that but it wont be forever. Who knows, it might even happen..... this year! Well, this blog. was a bit dry and chewy, a bit cardboardy, a bit boggy, a bit like wading through concrete, but I wanted to get the basic information over. To improve your general mood after such uninspiring text, go for a half hour walk somewhere beautiful. That always cheers me up! Or you could try eating a whole tub of ice cream, doing a bit of gardening or calling your best friend. If none of those works, perhaps you shouldn't read my blog. next time. Hoorah! I've finished! Going to go to bed and read now. Peace and love from Sara. Currently Listening : (Monday 7th Febraury 2005) Acoustic Amnesty, Beat Wednesday and Radio Northampton I've had lots of fun recently. I've been playing some of my songs with Paul Robertson and Robert Bray (on violin and bass respectively). We played at all three of the above mentioned places/events. Acoustic Amnesty was in Coventry in a church hall and was very civilised and pleasant. Beat Wednesday is Joe Wooley's new monthly event which will occur on the first Wednesday of each month. It's upstairs at the labour club and has a lovely atmosphere and appreciative audience (mainly). If you would like to hear the songs recorded at Radio Northampton, they are going to play them on the Weekender program (which is from 6 to 7 pm on a Friday - 104.2 FM and 103.6 FM). Also, you can hear last weeks show, which features 'To get to your soul' if you have a good old click on this here link: LISTEN AGAIN! (You will then need to click on the graphic which reads 'listen live and on demand' and fast forward the weekender show from Friday 4th February to exactly 39 and a half minutes to hear my song - or listen to the whole show! You should do this every Friday anyway if you are a respectable Northampton music fan). This will only have last weeks show on it until next week (if you get my drift. Because then last week's show will be this week and then the week after that, last week's show will be next week's and so on and so on). They are going to make the sessions available for download soon though. I will keep you posted. Oh this is all so complicated! Soon I will just make an mp3 of it to make things simpler. Right! I've been practicing piano this morning and now I'm off to have a massage as an early birthday present! What a life! I also bought about 12 pretty glass tea light holders this morning from a charity shop for my birthday party. That was fun. Also went to the tip this weekend and aquired some nice books.
(Tuesday 25th January 2005) THE WEEKENDER CHART Thanks to anyone who voted for me in the BBC Radio Northampton Weekender Awards. These were the awards held to celebrate all the local music played on the program over it's first year on air. The results were as follows for the 'Best Solo Artist' category: The Weekender Award Short Break Operator
Short Break Operator So hoorah for that! I was also nominated for Best
Song with 'Winter' but didn't get placed in that award. None the
less, I was thrilled to have been nominated, voted for, listened
to and appreciated by whoever did, does and will! Fantastic. I'm
going to record a session with the Weekender again soon, along with
my violinist and bass player. I will let you know when that is going
to be aired. (Saturday 11th September 2004) THE WEEKENDER CHART Thank you so much everyone who voted for my song 'Down' on the weekender Chart this week. I really appreciate your support. I checked it half way through the week and I was nestling about 5th, which isn't bad, but then, shock horror! Some of the bands manipulated the voting system and knocked everyone out of the running! The weekender crew said they would let it slip this week but not in the future. Luckily there are 3 more weeks to play with and if you can just bear to vote again (just once a week) I may be in with a chance of being number one. I've checked with Jon at the BBC and you can only vote once in a week so it wont help to try to vote more times than that. Oh jammy dodgers! So sorry if I'm boring you - but please vote for me again....... (and ask all your friends - if you aren't too busy). I will reward you with more highly amusing anecdotes about shopping for cheese......
ROADMENDER WEEKENDER This Friday (17th), the Weekender is broadcasting
live from the Roadmender. There will be about 6 local bands playing
and I shall be 'doin an exclusive'! That's one song and an interview
where I shall probably drift ridiculously off of the subject. BBC
Radio Northampton can be found at 104.2 & 103.6 fm and the Weekender
Radio show can be found on that frequency from 6 to 7 pm on a Friday.
I am going to finish a new song this week and play that. There,
I've said it now, I have to do it. (Thursday 3rd June 2004) News Article from Bad Harzburg Newspaper: Ein feiner Leckerbissen für 180 Ohren BAD HARZBURG. Ein Jubiläum im Schloss: Zum zehnten Mal luden Rolf Köhlert und Kulturklub am Freitagabend zur „Bad Harzburger Songnacht“. Unter dem bekannten und durchaus bewährten Motto „Musik live und handgemacht“ boten die Künstler ihren gut 90 Zuhörern ein optisch wie akustisch buntes Musikgemisch. Den Auftakt gestaltete Songnachtvater Köhlert in gewohnter Manier mit seinen „Friends“. Gemeinsam mit Carsten Eberts (Gitarre/Gesang), Traute Wethkamp (Gesang) „reiste“ Köhlert von seinem musikalischen Liebling Van Morrison über John Lennon und Paul McCartney bis hin zu George Harrison. „Ringo“ Bachmann und Uwe Schmitt (Köhlert: „Meine Rhythmusmaschine aus Göttingerode“) begleiteten das Trio mit bewährter Sicherheit. Dass die Proben in diesem Jahr eher kurz ausfallen mussten – Eberts studiert in Bayern, Wethkamp steckt mitten im Abitur – war (kaum) zu hören. Zu gut ergänzten sich die drei eingespielten Musiker stimmlich. Zum Abschluss der ersten Teils – als hätte man darauf gewartet – „We can work it out“ von den Beatles. Und kaum waren die letzten Töne des Songnacht-Klassikers schlechthin verklungen, genoss es Rolf Köhlert sichtlich, das Highlight des Abends ansagen: Sara Spade. In Marburg habe er sie getroffen und sei „hin und weg“ gewesen, schwärmt Köhlert. Ihre Musik? Einfach „thrilled“, wie es der Songnachtvater ausdrückt. Was folgte, war ein absoluter Leckerbissen für 180 Ohren. Sara Spades Auftritt war Songnacht pur. Ein Barhocker und eine Gitarre – mehr „Hilfsmittel“ brauchte die 29-Jährige nicht. Charmant, gefühlvoll und unglaublich sensibel klangen die Songs; ob gecovert oder aus der eigenen Feder, ob nachdenklich gehaucht oder humorig geträllert. Nach Tracy Chapmans „Fast Car“ ging ein Raunen durch die gebannt wirkenden Reihen. Eine Musikstunde, die wie im Flug zu vergehen schien. Mit ihrem Auftritt ließ Songwriterin Spade Erinnerungen an Meike Köster aufkommen, die die Songnacht zuletzt vor drei Jahren als Solokünstlerin bereicherte. Und wieder einmal schien sich auch das ungeschriebene Gesetz zu bestätigen, dass der Mittelpart musikalisch herausragt. Vielfalt und Farbe waren den Songnachtbesuchern im Vorfeld angekündigt worden. Für diese Farbe sorgte abschließend die deutsch-brasilianische Formation „Jamboree“ aus Hannover. Nach Sara Spade ein harter Schnitt, der mit zunehmender Spieldauer aber durchaus gelang. Und das nicht zuletzt aufgrund der sehr groovigen Samba- und Bossa-Nova-Rhythmen. Serviert mit einem Hauch brasilianischem Feuer war die Musik ein angemessener Start in ein sonniges Pfingstwochenende. Eike Zenner (Sunday 7th March 2004) I'm really excited and I don't know what to write about first. Is this because? A) It's spring. B) I'm cooking pie and mash and I've just remembered how much I love course grain mustard in my gravy and that I have some in the fridge. C) There's a wildlife program just started about Meerkats. D) I've been loaned a digital camera and can't stop taking pictures (just to prove it here is a picture of aforementioned dinner. Yes I DO like my pie like that. E) I'm booking venues for my Album Launch parties. F) I've just returned from my first meeting as one of 'The French Letters' - a new vocal group. G) I've just found a new shampoo that really does repair the damage to my hair caused by wind and central heating. Well, the answer is all of the above (except for the Shampoo one, which I made up). Below, I elaborate, using appropriate sub-headings. Album News Hoorah! At last, the new Sara Spade album is well underway. I have been recording with Producer Tim Rowkins at a Studio in Kent called 'The Granary' and pictured left are some of the musicians involved. The drums aren't actually musicians though. They are instruments. I've been writing a bit of a journal whilst I've been recording but it would take me a while to type it all up so I shall just allow you some excerpts. If you want any more you will have to make a special request to me as, I don't even know if anyone reads this page! 21/02/04 - The Arctic Sessions
But seriously though, I love it here. It's rustic, inspiring, and in the middle of nowhere which is great for interim jogs around the sheep fields, as long as you watch your step. Guy, who owns the studio, is a sweetheart and every now and then he brings in his two daughters (also pictured) who bring in a much-needed breath of fresh air and light-hearted banter to the control room. Then there's Nails who, as him nick name suggests, is the mildest mannered gentle and polite sort of person you could ever meet. Learning to shine in a box
Having played solo now for about
6 years I am now embarking upon recording 4 songs, most of which
have what I suppose could be called 'full backing'. I.e. Drums,
bass, percussion, backing vocals, other instruments for colour.
Not having worked with any of the musicians before and to a large
extent not being sure which direction to take the production in
has meant a lot of thought and ideas and help have come from all
the musicians and from Tim. The hardest part for me as a performer
though is singing my vocals with heart without the adrenaline provided
by an audience and the magic of a gig. It's so easy to just sound
bored. I've had to learn how to feel like I'm on Stage when really
I'm just trying to shine in a box. Very tricky. I think I'm starting
to get it........ Sweet Waters News
The French Letters, The Ginger Pig, The Happy Sunday Today I had a genuine happy Sunday. I went out walking, did some yoga, played a little music and ate a fine lunch and then drove through the countryside listening to Sunday afternoon Radio 2 (loads of old crooners - fantastic) in order to assemble with 3 other singers as 'The French Letters'. (This is a working name, it may be changed, but I quite like it)! We are planning to be backing singers (and occasional front singers) for the Ginger Pig band (see website). John Richardson led the session, suggesting songs and interpretations, whizzing through ideas in a flourish of inspiration as is his wont and the plan is for us to sing with the Ginger Pig on 26th June at the Picturedrome and go from there. We are all doing it for fun and it's a wonderful joyful experience to JUST sing and not be playing the guitar and to be connected to other singers in harmony. I feel more free and connected and able to let go which is what I've been yearning for recently. It's nice as well to sing things that I didn't write myself and just be a vessel. I also recently sang backing vocals for Sarah Gillespie at a London gig and that too was luxuriously enjoyable. (Standing to one side singing harmonies for my favourite, mysteriously beautiful and poetic songwriter- go to www.sarahgillespie.com to check her out). I loved it. Here's a picture of me with the lovely girls and the lovely John with the girls. More info. on this later when it gets nearer to the date. |
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