http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html Sarah McQuaid: Tour Diary Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Thu, 15 Dec 2011 02:50:51 -0800 http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/saturday_3_december_2011_manatonpeter_tavy
Last day of the tour! Our route took us right across Dartmoor, so we stopped for a quick look at Haytor as well as at another Dartmoor landmark: the Pixieland gift shop at Dartmeet, with its garden populated by dozens of gnomes. Smurf thought he’d made a new friend and went in for a hug, but was nonplussed by the reaction he got — “That's not what I had in mind,” says Smurf ....

One of the many things I love about England is the welcome given to dogs at public houses and other establishments. At The Plume Of Feathers Inn near Princetown, you can even order food for them from the menu! Bless. The whole scene couldn't have been more English: a couple of ex-soldiers exchanging war stories to my left, a tableful of French tourists to my right, Martin enjoying his pint of ale and rabbit pie, and then to top it off a troupe of visiting Morris dancers entertaining the punters. Sadly, instead of proper sticks they were equipped with special little twigs for indoor dancing. Not proper job Morris at all. Down at the bottom of this page is a video of the dancing, at the end of which you’ll see the aforementioned ex-soldiers getting up to go to the bar.

Then on to Peter Tavy Village Hall for the final gig of the tour, where Martin won a Christmas teddy in the raffle! Afterwards, we went out for celebratory drinks with the whole committee, including organiser Dawn Sherrell, our host Sue Way (like me, a Chicagoan transplanted to the West Country), and the lovely Ali and Steve, who kindly presented both me and Martin with jars of delicious homemade chutney.

Since it’s the last night of the tour, I’ll take this opportunity to give a great big thanks to Martin for a wonderful three months on the road, through all of which he’s been great company in addition to working extremely hard and doing a superb job in all his multifarious roles. I’m very much looking forward to my three months at home — and also very much looking forward to going back on tour again at the end of February! Many thanks to everyone who’s been following these diary entries, and I’ll see you back here in the New Year.






]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/saturday_3_december_2011_manatonpeter_tavy Sat, 03 Dec 2011 02:50:51 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/friday_2_december_2011_colebrookemanaton
En route from Colebrooke to Manaton, we stopped for lunch at a very nice pub in North Bovey, where I couldn’t resist arranging my mussel shells in neat serried rows and Martin couldn’t resist taking a photo of Smurf reposing on top of them. Sad, isn’t it ....

Tonight’s gig was at Manaton Village Hall, near Newton Abbot. As always with these Villages In Action shows, the atmosphere was highly convivial, with dinner served in the hall before the concert ... and as our lovely hosts Jan and Michael live right in the village, we were able to join them for a drink in the pub afterwards — the first time that’s happened on this tour!

]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/friday_2_december_2011_colebrookemanaton Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:06:59 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/thursday_1_december_2011_tivertonexetercolebrooke
En route from Tiverton to Colebrooke, we called in to Hugh Manson’s guitar shop in Exeter, so that I could get the truss rod tweaked on my guitar ... which was of course made by Hugh’s brother, Andy Manson! That’s Hugh on the right in the photo below. I’d never been to the shop before, and it was a treat to see the selection of guitars on display, including a couple made by Andy, as well as some gorgeous jazz archtops ... I’d dearly love a vintage ES-335 if anyone’s thinking of getting me a Christmas present (and while you’re at it, my husband would like a new motorbike, ideally a Honda VT750S).

Tonight’s gig was another rural touring show for Villages In Action, and while we were waiting to get into the hall I took a couple of photos of the very atmospheric churchyard beside it. Tonight was also Martin’s first opportunity to try out the new stage lights he’d just bought -- as you can see from the photo at the bottom of the page, they worked very nicely indeed. Many thanks to our host, Rosemary Stephenson, for putting us up and giving us a lovely dinner before the show, and to Caroline O’Sullivan and everyone on the Colebrooke Village Hall committee for making us so welcome!



]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/thursday_1_december_2011_tivertonexetercolebrooke Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:40:23 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/wednesday_30_november_2011_cardifftiverton
The kids were off school today due to the public services strike, so I was able to have a lovely long video Skype chat with both of them. Below is a photo of my daughter singing me a song she’s been learning for her school nativity play -- in which she’s going to be playing the role of Mary! My heart feels as though it just might burst ....

Bill and Rachel gave us a lovely lunch, and then we headed off to Tiverton, where we were staying in a Travelodge -- stopping en route to pick up some whisky, essential medication for Martin’s cold! Back to the grindstone tomorrow: a run of three more village hall gigs for Villages In Action, and then we can go home.

]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/wednesday_30_november_2011_cardifftiverton Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:15:48 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/tuesday_29_november_2011_bridgendcardiff
Just a hop, skip and jump today from Bridgend to Cardiff, where we were spending a very welcome day and night off with the wonderful Bill and Rachel Taylor-Beales. Long before I met Rachel, I’d written rave reviews of her first two albums, Brilliant Blue and Red Tree. When her third album Dust and Gold came out, I was no longer reviewing -- which was just as well, as by that time we’d met and become fast friends! Do have a look at her website if you haven’t come across her music before -- it’s gorgeous stuff.

Martin took himself off to the bed for the afternoon to nurse his cold with a cup of tea and a selection of films to watch on his iPad, while I sat at Rachel’s desk trying desperately to empty my email inbox. When evening arrived, Bill prepared a fine feast (see photo below of him hard at work in the kitchen), while Martin was delighted by Rachel’s assertion that Guinness was good for a cold. He lost no time in pouring himself a pint of same ....


]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/tuesday_29_november_2011_bridgendcardiff Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:52:33 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/monday_28_november_2011_tauntonbridgend
After last night’s gig in Totnes had been arranged, we’d driven on to a Travelodge in Taunton, so as to have a shorter drive today. We spent the morning catching up with work (love that 12 noon checkout at Travelodge), then headed on up to the home of musician, agent and promoter Derek Smith, founder of the band Mabon. It was lovely to see Derek again, and we had a most illuminating chat during which I kept scribbling notes about potential gigs. Derek also told us about his exciting plans for a new band featuring members from Shetland, Wales and Cornwall amongst other places, to be called Celtsmith -- keep an eye on his website for more info about that!

A small but enthusiastic audience turned out for the gig Derek had kindly organised for me, and it was lovely to see my friend and fellow singer/songwriter Rachel Taylor-Beales among them -- if you haven’t heard her music before, do check it out, as it’s beautiful and compelling.

Below is a photo below of me onstage, in which I quite like the nifty stuff that’s going on with the colours on the ceiling -- thanks, Martin!
]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/monday_28_november_2011_tauntonbridgend Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:38:49 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/sunday_27_november_2011_black_dogtotnes
Before leaving Black Dog, we had a lovely morning walk through the woods and fields near the home of our hosts, Amanda and Peter de Teissier -- a few photos below -- followed by a lovely Sunday lunch in their kitchen! There’s nothing that beats roast chicken cooked in an Aga ....

I was very excited about tonight’s gig, having been indirectly instrumental in the creation of the venue in which it took place. Martin’s brother-in-law, Simon Hallett, looks after promotion and events at the community radio station Totnes FM, and he and station manager David Parsley were keen to have me do a gig for them during my UK tour ... so keen that, having been unable to find a suitable venue, they decided to start one up themselves! Over the four weeks since my visit to the station on the 1st of November, they’ve transformed a drab meeting room into a wonderfully atmospheric club space, complete with stage and bar -- Simon himself built the bar, and a very nice bar it is, too.

The Studio Lounge had its grand opening on Friday night, with an impressive lineup of bands headlined by These Reigning Days, followed by an open mic last night and my concert tonight, and they’ve got a full schedule of weekly events planned for the coming year. Thanks so much to David Parsley for the lovely photos below of the stage (with my Andy Manson guitar looking gorgeous as always), support act Charley Pinfold playing one of her excellent original songs, and me onstage ....

Martin’s extended family were out in force to support the show, and at the bottom of the page is a photo of me with Martin, Robert & Carol Stansbury (Martin’s mum & dad), Simon & Tracy Hallett (Martin’s brother-in-law & sister) and Lorna & Lucy Hallett (Martin’s nieces). It was a fantastic night and I look forward to my return visit to the Studio Lounge in November of next year!









]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/sunday_27_november_2011_black_dogtotnes Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:29:32 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/saturday_26_november_2011_haworthblack_dog
Tonight’s concert was the first of four village hall gigs around Devon that I’m doing thanks to a wonderful programme operated by Villages In Action under the auspices of the National Rural Touring Forum. Through Villages In Action and other similar rural touring programmes, village halls and community centres around the country have the opportunity to host performances by musicians, comedians, theatre groups and circus acts whose fees are largely subsidised by the programme. It’s a really wonderful idea and I do hope they manage to keep their funding in these economically straitened times!

After setting up and soundchecking at the hall, we headed over to the home of our hosts, Amanda and Peter De Teissier, for a lovely dinner. There’s a photo below of Martin sharing an affectionate moment with Hattie, their very sweet dog ....

Back at the hall after dinner, we were delighted with how warm and buzzy the atmosphere was. The photo (taken around 15 minutes before the show started) doesn’t quite do it justice, but you get the general idea. The nicest thing about these village hall gigs is that they’re real community events, bringing neighbours together; the entertainment on offer is more or less secondary to the social element.

Thanks so much to Peter De Teissier, who happens to be a professional photographer -- see his website here -- for the two lovely photos of me onstage! Back at his and Amanda’s house afterwards, I had the first whisky mac I’ve had in years -- for those who aren’t already familiar with this delightful concoction, it’s a mixture of whisky with ginger wine. Delicious. Must remember to add ginger wine to our standard Christmas booze shopping list ....



]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/saturday_26_november_2011_haworthblack_dog Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:02:06 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/friday_25_november_2011_barnard_castlehaworth
Only a short drive today from Barnard Castle to Haworth (famous as the home of the Brontë family -- every single business in the town seemed to be named after them, from Brontë Estate Agents to Brontë Auto Repairs), so we had time to make bank and post office stops and still get to the home of promoter Adam Sargant and his wife Siân in time for a lovely lunch of homemade soup!

This was the first concert Adam had promoted at West Lane Baptist Church (or anywhere else, for that matter!), and he did a wonderful job of organising the event and selecting support acts. Thanks to two superb photographers who were there on the evening, Mike Green and John Sargent, I have lots and lots of wonderful pictures and videos to remember the show by -- here are just a selection of them, with credits underneath each photo to indicate the gentleman responsible.

That’s Adam Sargant introducing the evening as Paul Jermyn, the evening’s first support act and a formidably talented guitarist, looks on. After playing a couple of tunes on his own, Paul was joined by fellow singer/guitarist Spence, and after that it was my turn. The photo of Martin was taken during the interval, and for once he seems to be enjoying himself, despite having had to squeeze his desk into a church pew! The second half of the evening opened with a wonderful set by Adam and Siân’s 16-year-old daughter Emily, who played some lovely original songs and displayed an impressive command of the stage for one so young -- I wish I’d been that confident and together at her age!

Back at Adam and Siân’s house after the gig, Smurf got hold of an olive fork, with terrifying consequences -- see Martin’s blipfoto diary for the full story. I was so impressed with the olive forks that I had to take a photo of one of them in its proper context; apparently the handles are actually made of olive wood! I know what I want for Christmas now ....

Down at the very bottom of this page are three lovely videos shot by John Sargent: Paul playing the classic Arty McGlynn set “Lead The Knave/Bunker Hill” with Spence on backing guitar, Emily Sargant performing her original song “Time”, and finally me doing “Aquí Me Pinté Yo (For Frida Kahlo)”, one of the songs I co-wrote with Zoë Pollock for the Mama album Crow Coyote Buffalo.

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by John Sargent

Photo by John Sargent

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by John Sargent

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by John Sargent

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by Mike Green

Photo by John Sargent




]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/friday_25_november_2011_barnard_castlehaworth Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:54:41 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/thursday_24_november_2011_farncombebarnard_castle
A long, dismal slog of a drive today, from leafy Surrey all the way up to County Durham, but the treat that awaited us at the other end made it all worthwhile. The Barnard Castle Folk Club moved to The Old Well Inn some months back at the kind invitation of proprietor Peter Cockerill, with one of the benefits being luxurious accommodation for guest artists! My room had a four-poster and Martin’s had a swish leather headboard (the mention of which drew a wonderfully salacious “oo-er” sound from the folk club audience when I told them about it -- I had to repeat the words “leather headboard” a couple of times more just to hear it again! One fellow sitting at the back of the room also shouted up an enquiry as to how I knew that Martin’s room had a leather headboard, whereupon I explained that I always have a look at Martin’s room wherever we’re staying, just to make sure that I’ve got the nicest one).

Our dinner at The Old Well was lovely, too -- Martin reckoned his steak pie was the best pie he’d ever had. And he’s had a lot of pies.

Pictured below are, first of all, John Hunt (on the right, playing the guitar), organiser of the Barnard Castle Folk Club, and whistle player Mick Brennan, both members of the High Force folk group, doing a fine rendition of “Star of the County Down” by way of a floor spot.

Thanks so much to Peter Dixon of Radio Teesdale for the photo below that, showing me “onstage”. The next one was taken by Martin from the sound desk; as you can see, it was a capacity crowd, with a number of audience members peering in through the doorway from the next room!

In the last of the pics, that’s me looking in from the doorway while Peter Cockerill entertains the crowd with his Elvis Presley impression before my second set. We had a pleasant couple of drinks with Peter and his sister afterwards, then toddled up to our extremely comfy beds (mental note to ask Peter what make the mattress was). I can’t wait to come back to the Old Well again!



]]> http://sarahmcquaid.com/blog.html/thursday_24_november_2011_farncombebarnard_castle Thu, 24 Nov 2011 07:01:06 -0800 Words and Music - Sarah McQuaid - Tour Diary