Sarah McQuaid: Press

The videos below are of the Sarah McQuaid Trio. For videos of Sarah McQuaid performing solo, click here.

NOTE:
We’ve used Vimeo for the videos below because the quality is superb, but if they won’t play on your browser, just click here to view them on Sarah’s YouTube channel.

For best sound quality, use headphones to listen!

At the second-ever rehearsal of the Sarah McQuaid Trio (which took place on the 16th of August, 2011), we decided to set up a few video cameras on tripods in order to be able to give potential bookers a feel for what the band would be like onstage. This is the warts-and-all result. Infinite thanks to our manager, Martin Stansbury, for bringing the three of us together, providing the PA and doing the sound recording and mixing; to Ian Jenkin for editing the raw footage into a far nicer film than we had any right to expect, and also to Frank and Caroline Davey for the use of their converted barn.

This track, “Kenilworth”, was written by Sarah and features on her new album The Plum Tree and the Rose, due out in 2012. The song was inspired by the garden created at Kenilworth Castle in 1575 by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, for the use of Queen Elizabeth I during her 19-day visit to him in July of that year. Dudley spared no expense in devising a series of entertainments all calculated to persuade the queen to marry him, including a play in which a nymph called Zabeta had to choose whether to ally herself with Diana, goddess of chastity, or Juno, goddess of marriage – no prizes for guessing which side won the debate! But the focus of Dudley’s efforts was the garden, with its bejewelled aviary, scented flowers and 18-foot Carrara marble fountain carved with scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses – scenes that, according to a contemporary account, “might inflame any mind to long after looking: but whoso was found so hot in desire, with the wrest of a cock was sure of a cooler: water spurting upward with such vehemency as they should, by and by, be moistened from top to toe.” All to no avail: Elizabeth declined to marry the man she addressed variously as “My Eyes” and “My bonny Robin”.

Featuring Sarah McQuaid on vocals and guitar, Paul Adams on violin and Roger Luxton on percussion and backing vocals. Recorded live by Martin Stansbury.

This track, “Shady Grove/Cluck Old Hen”, is traditional, arranged by Sarah, and features on her 2008 album I Won't Go Home ’Til Morning.

Featuring Sarah McQuaid on guitar, Paul Adams on violin and Roger Luxton on percussion. Recorded live by Martin Stansbury.

This track, “In Derby Cathedral”, was written by Sarah and features on her new album The Plum Tree and the Rose, due out in 2012.

Featuring Sarah McQuaid on vocals and guitar, Paul Adams on violin and Roger Luxton on percussion. Recorded live by Martin Stansbury.