Hinge of the year

Happy New Year, everybody! I've had a lovely few weeks. On 21st December I was part of a reunion concert at Sage Gateshead, led by Eliza Carthy and celebrating 25 years of the Folkworks Youth Summer School. It was a twelve piece band of former Summer School participants - some of whom I hadn't seen for a good few years! We had a day and a half to put together a concert's worth of material, showing a bit of what we're all up to now and with a nod to some classic Summer School tunes and songs along the way. It was great to catch up and play music with everyone, and there was a real celebratory atmosphere.

 (photo by Mark Savage)

Then there followed a blur of after eights, jaffa cakes and cheese.

And yesterday the new year began with Scot:Lands, a multi-venue performance event happening throughout Edinburgh for its Hogmanay celebrations. I spent the day at the Assembly Roxy, looping a concert called Heart:Land with Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire, Withered Hand, Tommy Reilly, Andrew Mitchell and Alice Marra (The Hazey Janes) and some lad called Louis Abbott who I can't seem to shake off.  A lovely way to start the year! Here's an end-of-show photo, stolen from Roddy:

Tomorrow I'm heading back to Gran's House Studio with Fiona MacAskill and Mairearad Green for the second instalment of my New Voices album recording, with a few more days booked in for early February. Really looking forward to hearing the tunes coming together with the rhythm section parts laid down by Phil Hague, James Lindsay and Ali Hutton back in November. So stay tuned for more updates on Woven in the coming months..

Take care and all the best for a happy, healthy 2015 x

Bit o news

I have finally got round to setting up a Facebook music page, after a number of other Sarah Hayeses it would seem. And here's a link to my latest newsletter with a look back over some of this year's musical moments (mailing list signup is on the right --->)

Belt It Oot Christmas concert

I've had a fantastic time working with two groups as part of New Rhythms for Glasgow's Belt It Oot community singing initiative. Looking forward to our FREE Christmas celebration on 17th December!

Scot:lands

On New Year's Day, Louis (AF) and I will be appearing at Scot:Lands, a series of performance events happening throughout Edinburgh as part of its Hogmanay celebrations. The afternoon features dozens of artists across ten themed stages around the city. Ours is 'Heart:Land', presented by Roddy Hart: "Curator of the famously fabulous and ongoing “Roaming Roots Revue”, Roddy Hart, one of Scotland’s key (musical) players assembles a stellar line-up of brilliant and emerging home-grown musicians playing both material inspired by a place and paying homage to the great songs that connect them to their Scottish roots. An afternoon of hope and nostalgia, a unique journey into the Heartland of Scottish contemporary music."

Featuring Roddy Hart & The Lonesome Fire, Withered Hand, Andrew Mitchell & Alice Marra (Hazey Janes), Louis Abbott & Sarah Hayes (Admiral Fallow) and Tommy Reilly.

Celtic Connections 2015

The Celtic Connections train has begun its rumblings. Always an exciting time of year! I'll be playing three concerts in different guises throughout the festival... 23rd January, Tron Theatre: Inge Thomson's Da Fishing Hands is a beautiful collection of songs and instrumentals inspired by Fair Isle and the sea. Inge has also recently been nominated for Composer of the Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards! tickets

24th January, Glasgow Art Club: This will be the debut outing of a duo with fiddler Fiona MacAskill; our Wildings bandmate Jen will be away on three month Live Music Now residency in Mumbai, so she gave us her blessing! We'll be supporting the wonderful Finlay MacDonald & Chris Stout. tickets

29th January, Oran Mor: A solo show, with Adam Cohen headlining. tickets

'Woven' recording

I had a great time at Gran's House Studio last week, recording my Celtic Connections New Voices composition, Woven. Big thanks to Phil Hague (drums and percussion), Ali Hutton (guitar), James Lindsay (bass) and Angus Lyon (engineering and patience) for their sterling efforts laying down the 'engine room' of the album. I'll be back in the studio early next year to add the rest of the parts, along with Fiona MacAskill (fiddle) and Mairearad Green (accordion): can't wait! The recording project has been made possible by an Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK, for which I'm very grateful.

Next solo show

Really looking forward to playing a solo set at Edinburgh Carers Council's fundraiser gig on 23rd October at Electric Circus. Also on the bill are the mighty Withered Hand and Blue Rose Code. Should be a great night (and it's my birthday)! Ticket info here.

Next couple of weeks

I've been enjoying the opportunity to play in some classical music settings recently, and the challenge of getting my flute chops up to scratch! Following on from Northern Lights Wind Quintet's Saturday lunchtime performance at St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee, I've two more concerts coming up in October. Flutes en Route is an ensemble that started life while its members were all students at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). I joined the quartet in 2010, and since then we've had lots of great times from recitals to community concerts and the development of a musical storytelling project in conjunction with Live Music Now. We'll be playing a varied programme at Stranraer 'Music For All' (St John's Church, Stranraer) on Friday 3rd October at 7.30pm. October also sees the launch of The Glasgow New Music Expedition, a group I'm very proud to be part of. The ensemble performs music by living composers, and will open its concert season at the Arches, Glasgow, on the 17th. Our Artistic Director, Richard Greer, has been working hard to organise it all: no mean feat. GNME now needs an extra boost to its infrastructure to ensure that everything runs in a smooth and professional manner, doing justice to everybody's hard work so far. If you're interested in giving the group a hand, take a look at GNME's kickstarter campaign here. Earplugs at the ready, I'm off to practise the piccolo now...

I'll leave you with this fascinating video - discovered by accident this morning - reminding us all that everything has its purpose and part to play in a bigger system.

Blabbermouth and more

It was a privilege to be part of National Theatre of Scotland's Blabbermouth - a twelve hour celebration of Scottish writing in song, poetry and speech - on Wednesday 17th September. A hugely  uplifting, moving and enjoyable experience. Read a round-up from Brian Ferguson here. I'm off for a return visit to Ramsbottom Festival with Admiral Fallow tomorrow, having first played there in 2012. It has a great line up, friendly atmosphere (and good food stalls if I remember correctly...) Then, the following weekend brings a trio of shows: another outing of Inge Thomson's superb Da Fishing Hands at the inaugural Findhorn Bay Arts Festival, a lunchtime concert in Dundee with Northern Lights Wind Quintet, and a solo gig closer to home at the Glad Cafe in Glasgow, supporting Kim Churchill for Glow Arts.

I'm also really looking forward to beginning work with another Belt It Oot singing group next week. I had a wonderful few months teaching on the project earlier this year, and am so pleased it's been awarded more funding.

Over and out for now...

Emerging Excellence Award

I am absolutely delighted to have received an Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK, which will provide a vital contribution to the recording of my Celtic Connections commission, 'Woven'. I've booked studio time for later in the year, and can't wait to get started! For more information about how to apply for these awards, keep an eye on this page for the next deadline. Many thanks to Help Musicians UK for their support.