KILDARE MUSIC SCENE: Moat hosts Skylarks’ Sarah McQuaid

Skylarks Music Club are delighted to host songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sarah McQuaid at The Moat Theatre on Thursday, February 2.

An acclaimed folk musician whose subtle onstage mastery has beguiled music fans and critics alike, Sarah is set to embark on an extensive tour of The UK and Ireland in spring ‘23.

Born in Spain, raised in Chicago, holding dual Irish and American citizenship and now settled in rural England, Sarah McQuaid brings the eclecticism of her background to her “captivating, unorthodox songwriting” and choice of material, spanning genres and defying categorisation.

Her lush, chocolatey voice combines with her endearing personality, “subtle mastery onstage” and brilliant musicianship on acoustic and electric guitars, piano and (occasionally) drum to create a truly immersive experience.

Opening the night will be Kildare-based artist Sive, whose 2022 album We Begin in Darkness was released to critical acclaim and described as ‘hugely impressive’ by Paul McLoone on RTE Arena.

Sive and Sarah first met at the University of Limerick in 2018, when Sarah was giving DADGAD guitar workshops and Sive was teaching on the MA Songwriting.

Established in 2018, Skylarks Music Club has hosted an eclectic mix of some of Ireland’s finest musicians and songwriters including Cathy Davey, Mark Geary and Shane Hennessy.

Taking place in a cabaret-style setting with tables and chairs laid out across the venue, Skylarks’ mission is to bring high quality performances to music lovers in Kildare in a cosy and welcoming environment, and to create opportunities for touring artists to share their work with local audiences.

Tickets for previous Skylarks shows sold quickly, so early booking is advised.

Tickets are €15 plus booking fee and are available from The Moat Theatre Box Office on 045 883030 or from www.moattheatre.com