Sarah Gillespie
Critically acclaimed, Anglo-American songstress Sarah Gillespie is renowned for mixing jazz, blues and folk with her trademark streetwise poetic lyrics. Her 5 albums received outstanding reviews from the UK press and she has toured extensively for the last 10 years, performing in leading venues and festivals in Europe, the UK and USA including Blue Note (Milan) Ronnie Scott's (London) CBGB’s (NYC) Singer Songwriter Festival (Lahr, Germany) and sold out shows at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room. She's played live on BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour (twice), Loose Ends and Start the Week - where she was invited to discuss the role of politics in the arts. (Sarah has an MA in Philosophy and Politics). She has also received airplay on BBC Radio 2 & 3, plus Public Radio in the US. Her band features Tom Cawley-piano, James Maddren-drums, Chris Montague-guitar and Ruth Gollar-bass.
Tonight Gillespie is supported by Aria, and up-and-coming songwriter on the UK scene who is launching her debut Single "Rectify Your Soul” on Gillespie’s label Pastiche Records. The single blends classic soul with modern influences, creating a sound described as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu.
"Haunting tunes and striking lyrics…yearningly pretty and bittersweet" The Independent ★★★★★; "Joni Mitchell with a little rap-like percussiveness thrown in, Gillespie is an original" The Guardian ★★★★; "Like Dylan on amphetamines" The Financial Times ★★★★; "Beat poet adventurer strays beyond the boundaries of singer-songwriter" MOJO ★★★★; "Alive with her characteristic wit, savvy and sensitivity'. Album of the Year." The Arts Desk ★★★★★; "Her songs are beautiful, poetic artefacts" Telegraph ★★★★ "Just beautiful" Robert Wyatt