Sarah Calvert returns to Nelson at The Royal
By Nelson Daily Staff
Sarah Calvert
Monday @ The Royal at 8 p.m.
“Like all the great troubadours, Sarah tells a real story and sings with an open heart.”
— Paul Lansberg, former teacher at Berklee College of Music, founder of Selkirk Music College, Nelson, B.C.
What does she do?
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll like her better than Cats.”
Que Sarah has been playing music and performing since the time she was seven years old. She bid “au revoir” to The Royal Conservatory of Music and classical music; jazz, the blues and roots music stole her heart and have taken her on an amazing musical journey. She quit teaching, enrolled in the jazz program at Selkirk College and she has not looked back since.
A multi-instrumentalist who accompanies her earthy voice with piano, guitar and harmonica, she takes you on a voyage with insightful, witty and honest lyrics. She’ll dazzle you with her solid musical chops too. She’ll sing you a tune about lost love and smoking weed bluegrass-style, and then will have you on the edge of your seat with heart-felt narrative story songs.
Who is she?
Que Sarah (née Sarah Calvert) is a modern day Renaissance Woman: award-winning performing singer-songwriter, producer, assistant musical theatre director (for the recent Mirvish smash, My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding), former high school English Literature teacher, newspaper journalist, Extreme Freestyle Skiing competitor, ski, sailing and Kundalini Yoga instructor, mantra musician and all around swell gal.
Why does she do it?
“I see the beauty in music, so I do it ‘cause I can.” (“Four-Four”, from the album, Other Side, 2010.)
Sarah left the life of security and pension to fulfill a life long passion after the death of her mother, to whom she was primary caregiver for over a year. After seeing first hand how impermanent everything is in this world, especially life itself, she reinvented herself as “Que Sarah” the Songstress and ceased to be “Ms. Calvert” the Teacher.
What is up for the future?
More music, more skiing. She embarks on a two-month tour of B.C. and Alberta this winter to promote her new album, Other Side. She may also have to shred some powder in between shows. Spring will take her to the “other side’ of the country touring the Atlantic provinces.
What is the Other Side?
The debut album is a rich and sumptuous mélange of folk, hints of blues, jazz, bluegrass and country: neither it nor she can be put into a box in terms of genre. ‘Other Side’ refers to many juxtapositions: life/death, depression/joy, grief/redemption and love/loss. 13 tracks. Amazing musicians including Suzie Vinnick, Carolyn Mark, Andrew Collins of the Foggy Hogtown Boys, Tim Bovaconti (Burton Cummings, Ron Sexsmith et al.), Paul White (Kirk MacDonald, Alejandro Escovedo). Let yourself be taken to the ‘Other Side.’
www.quesarah.ca
www.myspace.com/quesarahmusic
www.sonicbids.com/quesarah
Tickets are $7.
