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August 4, 2008: Hello everyone! Excuse my long absence, but I have been on the road and my computer has been crashed. Now I have got my hands on a mac again, so I can update this page. : ) I am above the arctic circle. I am above Sweden, in fact, in north Norway. RIght now I'm looking out over the ocean and mountains and the sun is reflecting beautifully on the water. I'm so happy to be here. It has been a great summer. I went on tour with Corbin Murdoch and Melisa Devost, and we managed to play 4 countries. We did 2 weeks in England, a week and a half in sweden and denmark and the last leg in Poland. There were some ups and downs, some unexpected expenses, and some bad food, but most of the tour was really great, and we all laughed a lot. I am happy to have started to play in Sweden and England, and it's something I want to do a lot more of. After the tour I have been visiting my family in south sweden, eating lots of ice-cream and swedish pizza and falafels, crayfish tails and salmon. I have been swimming, hiking, and watching birds and jumping off cliffs. Shawn 'my' incredible drummer came to visit and I showed him a bit of the swedish south and we played a couple of impromptu shows. I also played some shows with Richard Lindgren again, they were really, really great. I love playing with him. My record is in its final stages, getting mastered next week. The fall tour with Kate and Joanna is shaping up, you can check the myspace for the most updated shows. If you want us to play somewhere, let me know aand we will try to make it happen. (as long as it's in Canada....) I am tired but well. Hope you are well also!!!!!! Best, Sarah
May 6, 2008 Hello! I am back from the Women in the Round on the Road Western Canadian tour and am glad to report that I am still alive and the tour was a success. : ) We had a lot of fun on the road, and we are planning a longer tour in the fall, so stay tuned for dates accross Canada and down the West Coast. A brief summary of the tour from my perspective: Rhizome, Vancouver: Great kick-off! It was the first time the 3 of us played together, and we were a bit nervous I think, about going on tour together, but we realized quickly that it was going to work out really well! Squamish: We stayed in a really great hotel, Heidi the manager was fantastic and generous, and we played a really long set to a surprisingly very appreciative audience of mostly skiers. Wonderful surprise show, I would love to come back and play there. Williams Lake: Deb, thank you for your kindness and generosity, I hope to meet you again soon. Williams Lake was a frazzled show for me because I was so tired after a 9 hour detour drive from Pemberton where we alsmost got caught in a rock-slide. But I woke up as the show went along, then Jacinda took us for a lovely walk on the dunes the next day. Thank you! Prince George: Not my best show performance-wise, but I thought that in general, this was our best show collectively. Fantastic night. Thank you Mel for letting us stay with you, really lovely to meet you. Edmonton: The Blue Chair was a great place that I would love to play at again, with more promotion. Harold the owner was a great guy, and we would love to play there again when we come back in the fall. Prism was a riot, and my fingers really hurt after the show. I love Edmonton! Snow in april is weird though. Thanks to Tina and her lovely partner for their kindness. Calgary: More snow. Moneypennies was bad soundwise, but turned out to be a really fun show after all. Sometimes itäs frustrating doing our own sound, when you try to concentrate on performing. Someone realized that, and called in a sound-guy, but noone told us and all of a sudden there's this guy changing our levels and getting a bit of feedback in the middle of a song, without a word. I didn't know what to think, and was really thrown off, and I think I offended him and he left without a word. However, I do think it ended up sounding a bit better after he had been there, so thank you to whoever you were, mystery soundguy. Great burgers! Nice people. We will be back. Regina: We sold 8 cd's to the 4 people who were there. First time I've known the names of all the audience members. Suss opened for us, she had taken the bus all the way from Winnipeg. Winnipeg: Organized by Suss, awesome show. Awesome sound, awesome place, awesome people. Really loved everything about it. After the show we headed into a snowstorm but we made it to Brandon, Manitoba by 3 am. Nelson: Lots of Kate's old friends. We played in a scout hall, it was really cold at first, then it was boiling. I had a great time. I saw my old bass-player Rob, and met some new people in Nelson who were really fun. I learned that I was playing trombone, not trumpet, when I did my mouth-solos, and I got to see some excellent yodeling. Hedley: Great show at the Hitching Post, lovely strange western old ghost town place. We stayed in a cabin by the water. We played a really great show. I was tired at first, but then I woke up as we played. Really diverse audience, I love that. Railway, Vancouver: Back to Vancouver, great show. Thanks Trigger. I love the Railway.
That's all for now. Chack in for European tour dates, and for more Canadian and US dates in the fall. Love, Sarah
April 7, 2008 As sent out in a recent newsletter: Check this out! I am playing a show this Friday, April 11th at Rhizome Cafe in Vancouver (317 East Broadway at Main St., Show time 8pm, Cover $10). It's going to be lots of fun (as usual!) as it is the kick-off to Women in the Round going on the road-through BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The tour features Joanna Chapman-Smith and Kate Reid and myself performing and we would love to have you there. Please come early to get a good seat because it fills up quickly! Please see the tour dates below and pass them on to any people you know who might be interested. Thanks to all of you who come out and support us in our music. We so appreciate having you in the audience! www.joannacs.com
Friday, April 11th-Rhizome Cafe, Vancouver Thursday, April 17-Blue Chair Cafe, Edmonton Wednesday, April 23-The Park Theatre, Winnipeg
Feb 20, 2008 2008- Jan 29 I thought I would now highlight the best and worst of 2007: Best: -Recording the new album Worst: -Getting the flu too many times Of course so much happened in this year that I just can't recall in this smalltalk due to lack of time and will to do so. But here is my unofficial top 5 albums of the year. And I'm going to go mostly swedish and Canadian, because, well, there has just been so much good coming out of these 2 parts and no I am not biased at all. But these have been getting the most play from me and I recommend hearing these artists: - Jens Lekman (Night Falls Over Kortedala) I hope you had a great year! I am remembering to relax and also what matters in life. Love, music, walking in the snow. It's what it's all about for me. Sarah 2007-August 19 Hello. If you are in Toronto, New York or Sault Sain Marie, you can catch me in early october. There may be some more dates thrown in there too later...Check out my myspace for details on shows. Sarah
2007-july 18 Some photos from recent trip to Sweden:
2007-June 19 I live somewhere around here. Close to where that car is , is the Commercial drive festival on july 22.
Hello. It’s been a while. I am in sweden. Taking a break, writing new songs, playing some shows. Next week I am playing at a place called Bakfickan in Malmoe with Richard Lindgren. His band are very kind to play with me. I’m very excited about this.
Some good things are happening. My songs are appearing on some TV shows and I am planning a tour of northern Europe in October, after I go to New York for an audio engineering conference. (Very excited about that!!!!!!!)
I am playing the Commercial drive Festival on july 22. And Under the Volcano on august 12. And don’t forget about my show at the Railway Club on july 24.
Anyways, I will talk to you again soon. Now I am going on a paddleboat and enjoy the cloudy weather. : ) (There is no bad weather, just bad attitudes.....)
Sarah
2007-April-twentyfive Hello. Here is my poster for New music West. I’m playing with KATE REID and MATT COUGLIN and his band will also play. Not Pawnshop diamond which I said before. But we’ll play with them in july. : )
then I also have my own poster that I actually wont print but I’ll put it here: ps. look out for Metro on friday (27th). There should be something about me in there. Oh, and we are going to play Under the Volcano Festival this year. news news. I am happy that summer is coming. : )
Listening at the moment: I like Kevin House’s new album “world of beauty” a lot. If you like beautiful songs with beautiful arrangements, you will like it too.
remember: success is not happiness, happiness is success. Beauty comes from within. Or something like that. People: be yourselves. That’s what’s beautiful. : )
That’s all, love Sarah
2007-April-fourteen
A while ago I was bit by my cat. Little did I know it would “almost “ kill me. I had to spend 3 days with intravenous antibiotics.I just found the proof. Here it is:
I/we are playing soon: may 5 at the Cafe deux soleils with Pawnshop diamond and others for New Music WEst, and may 6th at Rime with Mark Berube for the Black Crow Project. Read below about the project. Come out. I am really happy with how we are sounding right now.
.Music I am listening to right now:
Lucinda Williams (west) A mix in my ipod of old country including Hank WIlliams , Merle Haggard, The three highwaymen etc. Laleh (swedish pop songwriter/producer sensation-awesome) Jens Lekman- another swede on secretly canadian Fleetwood mac (fleetwood mac) Rickie lee Jones- (pirates)
2007-03-29: New Music West
Hello. I have some free time so I thought I should write something here. I have been in Banff for the last 6 months, doing an audio engineering residency at the Banff Centre for the arts. It's been great and challenging and fun. It was a chance for me to be able to hone my audio skills and especially learn more about high end recording and surround. And get paid doing it, not be taken advantage of like so many studios do it here in Vancouver.
Anyway, I'm back in town with new recording ideas and a lot more experience. And I'm looking forward to putting it to good use. Sometime this summer we will record our next album if I can get enough money together, and then in the fall it is planned that I'm going to record and produce my friend and collegue Cora Field's debut.
We have a couple of shows in may. One is new music west at Cafe deux soleils on may 5, and the other is the Black crow project on may 6 at Rime. Joined by friend Mark Berube.
Here is a photo from Banff that I really love. It says a lot about what it is like to be up there in the middle of nowhere with just you and the sun.
2007-01-10: "Pain Reliever" on Lufthansa "Country" playlist
Sarah's song "Pain Reliever" will be featured on the "country" playlist on all Lufthansa's international flights in march and april 2007. If you fly to Germany, be sure to check it out!
The playlist taken from Radio Goethe’s website:
2006-12-02: new website!!! So I made a new website again. Welcome. You probably also notice that the band has decided on a name: Sarah MacDougall and the Heroes. Look out for us!
2006-12-01, 1.38 am: great shows and snow
Thank you to everyone who came out to our 2 shows this weekend: Po Girl and Black Crow. Such a great time! Thank you for your amazing support. You can read more about this on www.myspace.com/sarahmacdougall. More soon.
2006-11-07: Music, cold, sounds in election times
During the past 7 weeks, I have been lucky enough to live in the Rockies. Actually in Banff, where I am working/studying as audio assistant at the Banff centre. It is definitely one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I get to be in studios and learn and get paid for it in a really beautiful environment. With elks everywhere. What else can you ask for? I feel pretty damn lucky to be here for 6 months. Listening to LIFE. There is a train going through every once in a while that I am going to record soon. It's just so cold now. Gaddammit, as my friend Gerardo would say. I agree, Gerardo. Gaddammit.
The Banff Centre is great. Full of incredible artists. Because of that, it is also very strange, of course. Many parties and classical music jams. hmmm.... Have you ever been to a classical music jam? We did a John Cage piece last week of recorded music/sound in surround with about 20 artists playing live with it. It reminded me of university but more fun. I played "I've got sorrow" in swedish. I know some of my audio friends were proud..(she's one of ours....) Other than being in Banff and recording, I am planning my next album. I am hoping to record it here at the Centre this winter. At least parts of it. I have surprises in mind..you will hear......: )
The BLACK CROW PROJECT has arrived. It is a project instigated by Katie Ormiston in Vancouver, and it is a fundraiser for the PORTLAND HOTEL SOCIETY in the Downtown East Side, Vancouver. She got about 12? artists together to submit songs for a compilation cd, and it's release party/fundraising party will happen on NOV 27.see below for more info. The cd is available NOW. See also www.myspace.com/blackcrowproject. We've also got national distribution, which is great. My song "Crow's Lament" is on there, and I will play it at the show too, as well as Corbin Murdoch's song. (I will FLY back to Vancouver---aaaaahhhh I am already fearing it----for everyone that doesn't know--I have an intense fear of flying even though my mother was a stewardess and I grew up flying everywhere, + I have lived on 3 continents and constantly fly back and forth between sweden and Canada----it makes no sense--please psychoanalyse me, perhaps it will help...) Oh yeah, the fundraiser is going to be housed at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, tickets are sold by ticketmaster for 19,50. (IT'S A GOOD CAUSE MY FRIENDS!) CDs are 15 dollars, so be PREPARED.
We are also playing the same venue, the VECC, on the day before with Po' Girl and Agnostic Mountain Gospel choir! I am very excited about that! Please come if you can, it'll be an awesome show. Tickets also at Ticketmaster.
The TV is on, following the election. Will there be a change? Will it make a difference? I hope so. I also hope Canada and Sweden will change when the time comes. It makes me sad what's happening in the world...I used to be active in politics, now just through art. I feel like more could be done. And it's raining in Banff for the first time since I've been here. That's it for now, I think. I'm going to go have a bath. Then I may go join my audio engineers for a drink.
Take care of eachother in the cold my friends-sarah
2006-09-23: Revelstoke, studio and fun shows
There are hundred dollar bills
that we never see
there are hysterical people on TV
Wonder where my money went
Wonder 'bout next month
Livin' aint exactly free
"And I for one can't wait to get out of this race
I for one, can't wait to get back to that river again"
We went to Revelstoke. I met up with part of my band there, we had dinner, then they took off with Kent McAlister. Bastard. I did many a solo set, trading off with Cora Fields who was opening for me. It was a great night and an awesome roadtrip there and back.
A couple of days before, we were in Red Light Studios, recording a demo for our upcoming album. We managed to record 5 songs in 3,5 hours live off the floor. Russell Sholberg is the new addition on bass. Great guy, great bass. Jesse engineered the session, and was as professional as can be and even let us all ride his new electric scooter. (you should have seen Tim-haha- racing down the vancouver eastside red light district with the biggest smile on his face. This is partly why I love my band members so much)
You can listen to an unmixed version of one of the new songs on my myspace site www.myspace.com/sarahmacdougall
Now I am in Banff, living right by the river for 3 months. I look out of my window and I see mountains and blue sky. I am here work/studying at the Banff centre doing audio engineering. Part of that is mixing my demo/ep and finishing up some other projects that I have been working on.
In a couple of months the "Blackbird singing in the dead of the night" project will be launched with a compilation cd of east side vancouver bands singing about blackbirds/crows. It's a fundraiser for the Portland Hotel society in the downtown east side. Here's some info from PHS:
"The Portland aka PHS Community Services Society - it was started almost twenty years ago when the Downtown Eastside Residents Association, whom had been funding the running the old Portland Hotel, decided they were going to pull out of that building -the few staff there had been doing everything in the building and were housing the hardest to house. Worried about the fate of these folks, one of the staff members, a nurse who had come to this work out of dismay and disgust at the way mentally ill/drug addicted individuals were being treated in the hospital system and in society at large, decided to start the Portland Hotel Society to continue housing them. It was the first society to house active drug users and since that time, we have grown immensely. always still fulfilling a mandate to house the 'hardest to house' (meaning mentally ill/drug addicted/physical diseases such as HIV, Hep, never had a stable address, etc) at the new Portland. We run two other hotels for BC Housing, co-manage the safe injection site with the health board, a hotel for individuals trying to cut down, maintain, or stop their drug use for the Greater Vancouver Housing Corp, a semi independent living building at 15th & Main and a seniors residence for mentally ill folks over the age of 54 for the Katherine Sanford Housing Society, a LifeSkills Centre, a chronic wound care residence, a building to house the large group of people from the Woodward's squat and other homeless folks, a daycare, and a community art gallery, a dental clinic, a community run cafe, an in-house medical clinic, among other things. The program I run for the PHS is Supported Independent Living for people in recovery from addictions."
The fundraiser is an initiative by Katie Ormiston of the band Pawn Shop Diamond and she has managed to get a bunch of really awesome local musicians to appear on the cd, including Veda Hille, Corbin Murdoch and the Nautical Miles, Parlour Steps, Po' Girl, Mark Berube, CR Avery and more. The cd release show will be at the VECC on November 27. Its a great cause and will be a great cd so please go. FOR MORE INFO GO TO: http://www.myspace.com/blackcrowproject
We are also playing at the VECC on November 26, opening for Po Girl and Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir. It's a part of the new music series at the VECC called the Volume music series. For more info: go HERE
Later, going out to grab some sunshine
Sarah
2006-07-26: Rime, show at the Main.
Ok. Rime with Headwater was a blast. Mucho fun. : ) Thank you to everyone who came, talked, spilled and laughed.Everyone at Rime was very nice to us, even though we almost blew peoples ears out at our soundcheck-sorry......Next show is this saturday at the Main--come out if you feel inclined-it's free.....And the whole band will be there sans Shawn but we have an awesome replacement drummer called Kenton Wiens.
If you have time, check out www.headwaterband.com. They are great.
2006-07-17: Shows and other things
New shows in the "shows" section. Also, be sure to check out www.myspace.com/sarahmacdougall, where the blog is (and also some photos)
2006-06-06: Summer updates
I am working on material for our next project and loving the wonderful weather. Working a lot. Trying to remember what life is really about. Planning summer shows and little summer/fall tours. Check "shows" for new updates.
xxxsarah
2006-04-23: it's been a while
A lot has happened since I last checked in. I have been to Sweden for a month, we played a really fun show at Rime, and I have been working on some new material. Tim and Shawn are on tour with Kent McAlister and will be back in time for our show at the Main on May 5 with Katie Ormiston.
I played some shows while in sweden, both in Malmoe. Turned out all the places had been contacting in Stockholm were renovating at the exact time I was there. My shows in Malmoe were fun, opened both time for my old friend Sara Thulin.
Some new shows are being planned for the summer. Be sure to check in soon.
xxxsarah
2006-02-21: New show
New show at RIME (commercial and william, vancouver) on April 9. I will be fresh home from sweden with new songs. I'll be pleying with the whole band I love it.
Stuff to check out: vancouver bands I just found out about www.headwaterband.com, www.motherband.com. Also, find Autobiography of Red by Anne Carter it is a beautiful book.
2006-02-07: It's a beautiful day
On my way to work (yes I have to work!!!) I thought I would write some words to all you dear people who read this website. I am pretty late but that's because this day is so gorgeous. After a month of basically only rain whooooo it feels so good! The band and I are taking a break from performing for a couple of months. I am going to sweden to visit my family and play a mini-tour and some of my band members are going on tour in Alberta with Kent McAlister.But we will see you soon. We are going on the road in late may so we will hopefully be in YOUR town and see YOU! Now I have to hurry!!!! AAAAhhhh!
xxxSarah
2006-01-02:
...seems like this time it'll stay like this for a while. I get a bit obsessed with these things...Anyway, some updates: We are playing at the Railway Club on Jan 11, with Shiloh Lindsey and Jennifer Hershman. I am also doing a solo show as part of the Roger Dean Young songwriter's night on jan 10. Check "shows" for more info. Also, look for new pics...
We are hoping to go on tour sometime this year, so stay tuned for more info on that.
2005-12-30: Happy new year!!!
Thanks to everyone who came out to Rime last night for the show with Corbin Murdoch. If you haven't heard his music, check it out here.
2005-12-19: New events
New events under Shows.
2005-11-14: CD's available on the Drive
CD's NOW AVAILABLE AT HIGHLIFE RECORDS!!
(1317 Commercial Drive)
Working on new songs. To find time for such things is a relief. time passes by quickly. It seems like winter was just over but it's been a year already. Winter is the perfect time for songwriting, the cold inspires and refreshes me. It is busy but still I get occational glimpses of crows and seagulls.
Perhaps there will be a tour next year. Let me know where you think we should go...-sarah
2005-11-09: Pay Pal
"Headed for the hillls" is now availablee to purchase with PAYPAL. Email sarahmac@sarahmac.net for more info.
2005-10-31: New events
Check out the events page for upcoming shows
2005-10-19: Welcome friends
Hello! Welcome to the new site. It's taken its time, but it is here at last. Also, the debut album is now ready to buy! Click here for more details. The album is called "Headed for the hills", and it's alt country/folk/noir/whatever ya wanna call it extravaganza! Written, produced and engineered by Sarah MacDougall (me), forever independent multitasker. Joining me on the album are Shawn Killaly (In 3's, Kent McAlister) , Rob Leishman, Tim Tweedale (Blue Island Trio, Corbin Murdoch and the Nautical Miles, Kent McAlister), Joanna Chapman Smith, and Pierre Lumoncel (The Beauticians). Guests include Sacha Levin (Swarm, All Purpose Band), Zoe Broomsgrove, Keith Rathie and Chistian Almstrom (slide player all the way from Sweden. ) The album was masterfully mixed and mastered by Sarah and Caleb Stull (of the Parlour steps and Figment Productions. ) You can buy it by going to the "buy the cd" link on this page or email me and we can arrange something.
More SHOWS will be Coming SOON!!!
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