Sarah Sample in Concert in late August
The Bridger Folk Music Society presents a concert with singer/songwriter Sarah Sample on Saturday August 25, 2012, at 7:30 pm at Crumb Brothers Bakery, 291 South 300 West in Logan. Tickets are $13 and are available via PayPal at www.bridgerfolk.org, or by calling (435) 757-3468, or take your chances at the door. Seating is very limited, and this show traditionally sells out, so advance purchase is recommended. The concert is sponsored by Import Auto and Utah Public Radio.If you could patent a failsafe formula for a marked upswing in creativity and artistic productivity, it could certainly look a lot like this:
- Record a debut album (2004’s “Rotate”), learn from its victories and not-so-victories.
- Rub shoulders with up-and-comers (Amy Speace, Kathrin Shorr) and seasoned success stories (Mark Stuart/Stacey Earle, Vance Gilbert, Christine Kane).
- Move from Utah to Texas to Wyoming to Seattle. Wanderlust, anyone?
- Live and soak in Austin, songwriting capital of the free world (just ask any Texan).
- Be a featured guest at your alma mater’s Mountain West Songfest & Symposium.
- Cut your hair (you’d be surprised by the anti-Samson effect). Maybe even dye it.
- Honorable mention at 2005 and 2006 Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase
- Play all over the Four Corners, and then some- Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Texas, including in-the-studio performances on KOAY (SLC), WPR (Laramie, WY), KHEN (Salida, CO), KDNK (Carbondale, CO).
- Play the Founders Title Folk Festival, and crash the party with the Go Girls unofficial SXSW Showcase, and Gorilla Showcases at Folk Alliance.
After all that, the last thing Sarah Sample wanted to make was just another folkie -girl-with-acoustic-guitar album. Sure, the songs were born as just an acoustic guitar and a voice. And, in the folk tradition she loves and respects so much, would likely be taken across America that way. But she didn’t want to document them that way. At least not this time.Enter Scott Wiley (Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Elliott Smith) and a new sonic palette. With plenty of reverence for the songs- because, after all, it’s all about the songs- they set out to take Sarah’s music into new territory. The album “Never Close Enough” is to Sarah Sample as “Flaming Red” is to Patty Griffin: a marked departure from a promising, acoustic debut but never too far away from her soulful folk roots. Sarah’s passionate, soul-stirring voice is still up front. And her compassionate, empathetic take on the human condition and her melodic Polaroids are more moving than ever. On “Never Close Enough,” with some new musical colors and a great new family of songs, Sarah Sample has achieved the dream: staying true to the muse while staying faithful to her roots.
“Someday, Someday” is Sarah Sample’s latest release. And after two albums, an EP, and lots of touring into her career, Sarah Sample is quickly shedding any traces of up-and-comer with its arrival. With a potent mix of hard work, conviction, an uncanny and tireless ability to connect with audiences, relentless enthusiasm, a stunning voice and- most importantly- an enviable catalog of really, really great songs, it’s easy to see why.