Sarah Darling: Winning the hearts and souls of UK Country fans

Photo: Andy Teo

Written by Sahar Summer Bayer

Tonight its Nashville meets London as Sarah Darling makes a sweet entrance, accompanied by her sweet vocals. A magical evening that ends in a starry night both in the Chapel and above as the stars glisten.

Performing at the Union Chapel ,an undoubtedly fitting venue ,Darling manages to win our hearts and souls while also heightening sentiments of Christmas cheer and togetherness during this holiday season. Sarah performed an array of her old and new songs as well as classic and timely Christmas songs to celebrate the winter season.Having recently released her highly anticipated 5th studio album with with pop and folk undertones ,‘Wonderland’, the show began with Call Me. Her promising album has achieved much acclaim rising to the UK Country charts to reach number 1, alongside two British Country Music Award nominations for ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ and ‘International Album’. This reinforces Darling’s position as a global country star. Her album would therefore make a lovely addition to someone’s stocking!

She had several guests throughout the evening such as Jamie Lawson who did a goosebump-worthy rendition of Cohen’s Hallelujah. This was followed by a performance by The Wandering Hearts, enriched in gorgeous harmony, as she introduces them as her 'Americana Dream'. From the band, Lizzie and Catherine joined Sarah for a take on Joni Mitchell’s River and The Dixie Chicks version of Landslide. The trio clearly have great stage presence and chemistry so it would be great to see them continue to perform and write together.

Darling’s songs are soaked with vivid imagery and have the ability to evoke powerful and heart-wrenching emotions, as Darling mentions “from heartbreak to loss” and reassuring that “feelings are much like waves and they go if they want to.” The chapel evidently added an ethereal and magical flair. Darling ended her show with London Fog before serenading us into a trance with an acapella of Silent Night. She was met with deserving applause and a standing ovation. Understandably so, as her music and performances are so elegant and have a lullaby quality - so effortless and dreamy, wonderfully encapsulating the spirit of Christmas. A Winter Wonderland indeed.

Sarah Darling announces special Christmas show in London

Following her appearance on BBC Breakfast on September 10th, Nashville-based, UK approved country singer-songwriter Sarah Darling announces her return to Union Chapel for a very special Christmas show on Monday 2 December. Having recently released her highly anticipated 5th studio album ‘Wonderland’, Sarah will be performing a mixture of old & new songs in addition to traditional Christmas records to celebrate the winter season.

Stateside Sarah has played the CMA Festival in Nashville, toured with stadium fillers Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill and Tim McGraw, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry over 90 times, in addition to being a frequent performer at the Bluebird Café. However, it is Sarah’s success in the UK that really highlights her triumphant career. 

“Britain has a special place in my heart, and the audiences have always been so warm and welcoming.”

 Through hard graft, years of UK tours, immersing herself in the nation’s country scene and being embraced by the musical and fan communities, her acceptance by UK country music has been comprehensive. The time spent absorbing the culture and music lead to the early decision to co-write with a host of top British songwriters. The result - a number 1 country album on the official charts and two British Country Music Award nominations for ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ and ‘International Album’. Her undeniable popularity landed her top spots at some of the biggest UK country music festivals such as Nashville Meets London, FSA Fest, SummerTyne, Cambridge Folk Festival and the headliner position at the acclaimed British Country Music Festival on September 13th.

“Throughout this year, I've met so many wonderful new friends and fans in the UK.  I'm so excited to have my final performance of 2019 here in London at the beautiful Union Chapel - and hope to share the stage with some really special guests and close friends”

Sarah Darling announces final guests for Wonderland shows in London & Manchester

Country singer-songwriter Sarah Darling starts her UK tour next week, and she has just announced guest Gary Quinn will join her in Manchester.

Northern Irishman Gary Quinn has become one of British country music’s more established performers. A five time British Country Music Association Awards winner, his fans include Kristina Bush of Sugarland who called Gary “wonderful”.

Sarah Darling will be previewing songs from upcoming album ‘Wonderland’ as she tours the UK, her home-away-from-home.

Sarah said, “I’m so excited to be returning to the UK to share my new music. Doubly excited since many of the tracks on ‘Wonderland’ are “made in the UK” with UK co-writers and producers! Britain has a special place in my heart, and the audiences have always been so warm and welcoming.”

Sarah Darling March 2019:

Wednesday 13 Mar - London, Bush Hall w/ guest Liv Austen

Saturday 16 March - Manchester, Deaf Institute w/guests Lauren Oakes & Gary Quinn

Sarah Darling announces guests for Wonderland shows in London & Manchester

Country singer-songwriter Sarah Darling who tours the UK this March, will be joined by Liv Austen (London) and Laura Oakes (Manchester) it was announced today.

Liv Austen is the artist who came to London for the drama, but stayed for the music. That she made the right decision is turning into quite an understatement.

The Norwegian-born singer-songwriter arrived in the UK in 2010 to study acting, before finding her voice as one of the hottest new properties on the music scene.

The rave reviews that greet Austen's every gig has been echoed by similar acclaim for the 2018 debut album, ‘A Moment of Your Time’

Laura Oakes love for Dolly Parton and the Dixie Chicks may seem an unusual music taste for a teenager from Liverpool, but in her teenage years Laura really started to embrace her influences performing anywhere and everywhere.

A visit to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville at the age of 18 proved to be an overwhelming and life defining experience, driving her to realise her dream of writing and singing country music.

2018 saw Laura return to Nashville to co- write with some of the world’s greatest songwriters. Now back in the UK armed with a bundle of fabulous songs ready to perform to hungry audiences and releasing new music.

Sarah Darling will be previewing songs from upcoming album ‘Wonderland’ as she tours the UK, her home-away-from-home.

Sarah said, “I’m so excited to be returning to the UK to share my new music. Doubly excited since many of the tracks on ‘Wonderland’ are “made in the UK” with UK co-writers and producers! Britain has a special place in my heart, and the audiences have always been so warm and welcoming.”

Sarah Darling March 2019:

Wed 13 Mar - London, Bush Hall w/Liv Austen

Sat 16 Mar - Manchester, Deaf Institute w/Lauren Oakes

Sarah Darling announces London & Manchester dates for March 2019

Sarah Darling has announced a host of UK dates in March 2019, including Bush Hall, London on 13 March and Manchester’s Deaf Institute on Saturday 16 March.

These new dates will showcase ‘Wonderland’ for feverish fans who have been waiting to hear what Sarah has been cooking up in the past few months.

Sarah Darling releases new single ahead of UK tour

Ahead of her 12 date UK & Ireland tour, Nashville’s Sarah Darling releases the single ‘Wasted’. Produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascall Flatts) and written by Sarah with country hit songwriters Josh Osborne (Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt et al) & Marc Beeson (Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes) ‘Wasted’ is a beautiful, poignant reflection of the devastating effects of addiction.

The song was previewed to an entranced audience at Sarah’s sold out Christmas 2017 concert at St Pancras Old Church, where she explained it was possibly the most personal song she had ever written; “’Wasted’ is a track that is particularly personal to me as it deals with the emotional distress addiction causes for everyone. It’s not just the person abusing but also the people around.”

Originally written when Sarah first moved to Nashville from Iowa, the song has remained unreleased until now, as Sarah explains “I always felt like it was special but didn’t know what to do with it. Maybe because the subject is so heavy I stopped playing it, but somehow those special tunes always find their way.”

The track also marks an important step in Sarah’s career, it is the first to be released from a late-2017 recording session with producer Mark Bright (whose credits include multi-platinum albums by Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood). “I think the new tunes I’ve recorded take you to a deeper part who I am. My road hasn’t always been an easy one and the new music takes you on that journey of honesty and finding strength. I have a lot to sing about when chasing dreams are like climbing mountains.”

This spring Sarah is due to return to the studio with Mark to complete the new album slated for a 2018 release. This record will follow 2017’s acclaimed ‘Dream Country’, Sarah’s third studio album but the first to receive a full UK release. Named album of the year by ‘Your Life In A Song’ ‘Dream Country’ introduced Sarah, who was recently awarded the [country music blog] ‘Belles and Gals Award 2017’, to a receptive and welcoming UK audience.

Stateside Sarah has toured with stadium fillers Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Vince Gill and Tim McGraw, and performed at the Grand Ole Opry more than 80 times. In the UK, as well as her own headline concerts, Sarah has toured with her signature ‘Night in Nashville’ shows, opened for the chart-topping Ward Thomas and performed at the C2C: Country to Country festival both in 2016 and 2017.

Sarah will embark on her biggest UK tour to date on March 5th at the Union Chapel, London.

On this 12 show tour, the BCMA Awards ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ nominee will be performing songs from her three previous studio albums and previewing songs from the forthcoming album.

Looking forward to the tour Sarah says “I am so excited to return to the UK for a release party of sorts! My newest single is scheduled to release on March 2nd, and I cannot wait to celebrate with my UK fans.”

For one of the brightest new stars in the country music scene, the sky really is the limit.

Tickets for Sarah Darling's UK tour are on sale now. Click here for full details and to purchase.

Supports announced for Sarah Darling’s London and Manchester shows

Sarah Darling returns to London and Manchester as part of her UK tour this March, and today details of who will be joining her as support has now been confirmed.

At London’s Union Chapel on Monday 5 March, Sarah will be joined by London-based Country-Pop songwriter Twinnie and Nashville-based songwriter Katie Pruitt.

In 2016, Twinnie self released an EP that she co wrote with Jon Green (James Bay, Tor Miller, James Morrison) which reached #2 on the Country iTunes Chart.

After recently supporting Chase Rice in December and performing at Country Music Week, she is currently focusing on writing her debut album and having recently been signed to BMG Records worldwide, Twinnie is splitting her time between Nashville, LA, Sweden and London working with top collaborators to create a unique record set for release in 2018.

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Katie Pruitt is a young, talented, and fiercely passionate songwriter within Nashville’s music community. Embracing her new city for the past three years, Katie has swiftly built a reputation around her dynamic vocals and soulful, bluesy sound.

Splitting her time between writing songs and waiting tables at 12 South’s Mafioaza’s, Katie wasted no time getting her foot in the door of Nashville’s music scene. Alas, Katie’s first big break wasn’t until she landed a Tuesday night residency at The Basement where she truly started to see her fan base explode. Not long after that, she charmed her way on to the Music City Roots stage in Franklin, Tennessee and fostered a relationship that secured her a spot on Nashville’s Americana Festival lineup.

In Manchester, Sarah is joined at the Night & Day Cafe on Tuesday 20 March by British singer-songwriter Emma Stevens.

A multi-instrumentalist, Stevens first picked up a guitar at the age of two and has since learnt cello, piano, banjo, ukulele and mandolin. Playing the majority of the instruments on her albums herself, Emma has achieved four consecutive play-listed singles on BBC Radio 2, extensive radio play in the UK, Europe and Australia, and an iTunes single of the week for her song "Riptide”.

Tickets for both shows are on sale now. Further details here.

Sarah Darling announces UK tour around March London date

Following her opening slots for chart toppers Ward Thomas, touring the UK with her own  “Night in Nashville” shows, and performing at the C2C: Country to Country festival (2016 & 2017), Sarah Darling announces her biggest UK headline tour to date.  On this 12 show tour, the BCMA Awards ‘International Touring Artist of the Year’ nominee will be performing songs from her three studio albums – including the acclaimed 2017 release ‘Dream Country’ (which was named album of the year by ‘Your Life In A Song’) – and previewing songs from her forthcoming 2018 album.

Looking forward to the tour Sarah says “I am so excited to return to the UK for a release party of sorts!  My newest single is scheduled to release on March 2nd, and I cannot wait to celebrate with my UK fans.” 

Sarah previewed some new material from the upcoming album during her sold out Christmas concert at St Pancras’ Church last December – where she also revealed she has been working with Mark Bright, the producer responsible for some of the greatest albums by Carrie Underwood and Reba McEntire among many others. Included on the Christmas setlist, and sure to be performed on this upcoming tour, was a track co-written with Ward Thomas and another, "Angel Wings", which was described by W21 Music as “a song that we should all be singing around a fire in an Irish bar, as if it was already a classic,” in their glowing live review of the show. Sarah’s intimate performances are definitely not one to miss.

For one of the brightest new stars in the country music scene, the sky really is the limit.

“We had witnessed and not for the first time for some in the crowd a fabulous artist, amazing singer whose honesty and emotion shines through”

— The Live Review

Tour dates

05/03 - Union Chapel, London
10/03 - Unitarian Church, Brighton
12/03 - The Waterfront, Norwich
13/03 - Gateshead 2, Gateshead
14/03 - Studio 2, Liverpool
15/03 - Oran Mor, Glasgow
17/03 - Unitarian Church, Cambridge
18/03 - Basement, York
20/03 - Night & Day, Manchester
22/03 - Empire Music Hall, Belfast
23/03 - Grand Social, Dublin
27/03 - Lantern, Bristol