SARAH-JANE SUMMERS
TRADITIONAL & EXPERIMENTAL STRINGS / COMPOSITION
"A HOWLING GALE, BRILLIANTLY EVOKED" (THE WIRE)
"DAZZLING FOLK VIRTUOSO" (THE STRAD)
© Andreas Ulvo
SARAH-JANE SUMMERS
Biog//
"wild, adventurous & exciting" (The Glasgow Herald)
Album of the Year 2017(VIRR)
Late Junction BBC Radio 3
A versatile, free-thinking, impassioned performer, Sarah-Jane's unique style blends the lyricism of traditional music with the emotive rawness of improvisation.
A tradition-bearer of the old Highland style of fiddling, she was taught by the late, great Donald Riddell (1908-1992), who learnt his fiddling from a relative of hers, Alexander Grant of Battangorm (1856-1942). She is now based in Norway and holds a masters degree in Norwegian traditional music and free improvisation from The Norwegian State Academy of Music.
Her unique skills have led her to perform at folk, jazz, rock, contemporary music and noise festivals worldwide with some of the biggest names within the Scottish and Norwegian music scenes, including Norwegian pop band Highasakite. She has also performed and recorded with top Canadian contemporary music string quartet, The Bozzini Quartet and was a founder member of the Scottish chamber folk group, RANT, with whom she recorded two albums.
Her duo with her husband, Juhani Silvola, has earnt rave reviews. Both of their albums received the prestigious Top of the World status from the world music magazine Songlines:
"magnificent...absolute masters of their instruments" (Songlines)
VIRR, her album of solo free improvisations on viola and fiddle, was Album of the Year 2017 on Late Junction, BBC Radio 3:
"a no holds barred collection of free improvisations ... a howling gale, brilliantly evoked ... a fine album" (The Wire)
"ranging from avant garde classical music over eerie folk to harsh, intense outbursts of free jazz...a unique album" (Merchants of Air)
"astonishingly creative" (Northern Sky)
Released on International Women's Day 2018, SOLO saw Sarah-Jane return to her roots and was a highly personal statement:
"dazzling folk virtuoso" (The Strad)
5/5 The Scotsman
Also a composer, Sarah-Jane wrote a New Voices Commission for Celtic Connections 2018, released in 2019:
"a feast of great music" (The Living Tradition)
She also wrote the music for Tha Thu Air Aigeann M'Inntinn, the BBC animation about the Iolaire disaster, and has collaborated with the renowned science/arts duo Semiconductor.
© Jenny Berger Myhre
awards, nominations, recognitions//
SOLO - Album of the Year, The Scots Trad Music Awards 2018 (long list)
VIRR - Album of the Year list 2017, Late Junction
Widdershins - Album of the Year, The Scots Trad Music Awards 2017 (long list)
Widdershins (2016) - awarded Top of the World status from Songlines and 5/5 from fRoots.
Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola (2013) - Top of the World status from Songlines
BASIC INFO
where//
Scottish, based in Norway
genres//
traditional Scottish, improvised, contemporary
favourite things//
rain, wind, dark chocolate, modern art galleries, cryptic crosswords, Le Petit Prince
hobbies//
reading dictionaries, abstract photography,
sewing with tweed
websites//
label//
Dell Daisy Records
Eighth Nerve Audio
RELEASES
2008-present//
VINJEFOLK (EP) - Vinjefolk (2019)
OWERSET - Sarah-Jane Summers (2019)
KALOPSIA - Sarah-Jane Summers (2019)
BOZZINI+ - Quatuor Bozzini, S-J Summers etc (2018)
SOLO - Sarah-Jane Summers (2018)
VIRR - Sarah-Jane Summers (2017)
Widdershins - Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola (2016)
Reverie - RANT (2016)
Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola (2013)
RANT (2013)
Mala Fama - Summers/Silvola/Kvam(2012)
Highland Strathspeys for Fiddle (Tuition DVD) (2010)
Nesta - Sarah-Jane Summers (2008)
Sarah-Jane also appears on//
Bozzini+ - Quatuor Bozzini, S-J Summers etc (2018)
Songen om Guro - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt (2017)
Strange Flowers - Juhani Silvola (2016)
Eamiritni - Elin Kåven (2016)
Halley - Comet Kid (Sony Music 2015)
Hvis Blikk Kunne Drepe - Johan Jørgensen (2015)
Skog og Ørken - Steinkast (2015)
Gach Sgeul - Julie Fowlis (2014 as part of RANT)
Babylove - Ingrid Håvik (2013)
Maizan - Elin Kåven (2013)
Wyrd - Brend (2012)
Window's A Fall - Sacred Harp (2011)
We Get Along Like A House On Fire - Like Rats From A Sinking Ship (2011)
Happ - Fribo (2010)
The Ha' o' Habrahellia - Fribo (2007)
WATCH
video//
LIVE PERFORMANCES
2020
29th Nov - Riksscenen, Oslo - with Oslo Kammerorkester & Juhani Silvola
9th Nov - Columbi Egg, Bergen - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola
25-31 July - Teaching at Alasdair Fraser's fiddle camp. Sabhal Mór Ostaig, Isle of Skye
3rd July - Motvind - with Jonas Cambien
10th June - Nesodden Kirke, Nesodden - with Kelda Quartet
13th May - Bærum Kulturhus, NO - Summers/Silvola
25th April - Soddjazz - with Susanna Wallumrød, Go Dig My Grave - CANCELLED
14-16th Mar - recording with Ricercar Consort, Belgium
6th Mar - Strømmen Bibliotek - with Kirsti Bakken Kristiansen (Draumkvedet)
14th Feb - Vinterfestalen, Rauland - with Åsmund Nordstoga / Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
2nd Feb - Les Folles Journées, Nantes - with Ricercar Consort & Maria Keohane
1st Feb - Les Folles Journées, Nantes - with Ricercar Consort & Maria Keohane
24th Jan - Celtic Connections, Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow - with Susanna Wallumrød, Go Dig My Grave
19th Jan - Celtic Connections, Mitchell Theatre, Glasgow - Owerset
18th Jan - Celtic Connections, The Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow - GRIT Orchestra
16th Jan - Celtic Connections Opening Concert, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - GRIT Orchestra
16th Jan - Celtic Connections School Concert, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall- GRIT Orchestra
12th Jan - Baroque At The Edge Festival, LSO St. Luke's, London - with Susanna Wallumrød
2019
18th Dec - Christmas Concert, Ishavskatedralen, Tromsø - with Harald Bakkeby Moe
20th July - Vinjerock - with Vinjefolk
5th July - Førdefestivalen (Teltet utenfor Pikante) - with Juhani Silvola
4th July - Førdefestivalen (Jølstramuseet) - with Juhani Silvola
3rd July - Førdefestivalen (Gloppen Hotell, Sandane) - with Juhani Silvola
24th May - Folkemusikkveka i Ål (Jegerstugu, Thon Hotel) - with Vinjefolk
23rd May - Folkemusikkveka i Ål (Kyrkjekonserten) - with Vinjefolk
16th Mar - Hamar Kulturhus, NO - with Juhani Silvola
8th Mar - St. Croix Huset, Fredrikstad, NO - Sarah-Jane Summers' Owerset - Owerset release tour
7th Mar - Riksscenen, Oslo, NO - Sarah-Jane Summers' Owerset - Owerset release tour
6th Mar - Kafe Hærverk, Oslo, NO - guesting with Hilde Marie Holsen & Magnus Bugge
12th Feb - Fizzle, The Lamp Tavern, Birmingham, UK - solo - Kalopsia release tour - cancelled
9th Feb - Frittfall, Oslo, NO - with Hilde Marie Holsen - Kalopsia release tour
26th Jan - Nonfigurativ Musikk, Tønsberg, NO - solo - Kalopsia release tour
22nd Jan - Cafe OTO, London, UK - solo - Kalopsia release tour
21st Jan - Mandagsklubben, Copenhagen, DK - solo - Kalopsia release tour
2018
21st Dec - Nesodden Kirke, Nesodden, NO - Kelda's Christmas
13th Dec - FRIM på Fylkingen, Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2, 118 25 STOCKHOLM, SE - solo - Kalopsia release tour
3rd Dec - Ni Muser, Trondheim, NO - solo - Kalopsia release tour
26th Nov - Columbi Egg, Bergen, NO - solo
25th Nov - Café Sør, Oslo, NO- with Juhani Silvola & Martin Langlie
18th Nov - The Scots Fiddle Festival, Edinburgh, SCO - with Juhani Silvola
18th Nov - workshop in advanced technique, The Scots Fiddle Festival, The Pleasance, Edinburgh, SCO
8th-11th Nov - Folkelarm, Riksscenen, Oslo, NO - solo
29th Oct-2nd Nov - DKS, Riksscenen, Oslo, NO - with Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
29th Sep - Musica Divina, Herentals, Belgium - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna Wallumrød, Frode Haltli & Giovanna Pessi
28th Sep - Handelsbeurs, Ghent, Belgium - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
27th Sep - Rich Mix, London, England - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
25th Sep - National Concert Hall, Dublin - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
23rd Sep - Alte Kirkche, Romanshorn, Switzerland - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
21st Sep - Dokkhuset, Trondheim, Norway - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
20th Sep - Bergen Kjøtt, Bergen, Norway - 'Go Dig My Grave' with Susanna
21st Aug - The GRIT Orchestra, Light on the Shore, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland
21st Jul - Vinjerock - with Vinjefolk
8th Jul - House concert, Nesodden, Norway - with Juhani Silvola & Ingeborg Christophersen
4th Jul - Katrineholm, Ericsberg, Sweden - with Juhani Silvola
3rd Jul - Eskilstuna, Lagersberg, Sweden - with Juhani Silvola
24th Jun - Bønsnes Kirke, 3530 Røyse, Norway - with Kelda Quartet
21st Jun - Biermannsgården, Oslo, Norway - with Hilde Marie Holsen
2nd Jun - Musikkfest, Schous Kulturbryggeri, Popsenteret, Oslo - with Juhani Silvola & Hans Martin Austestad
16th May - Business for Peace Awards Ceremony, The City Halls, Oslo
15th May - The Norwegian Royal Residency, Norway - with Maren Selvaag & Rohey Taalah
6th Apr - 12.15, Aula, Foajeen i Georg Sverdrups Hus, Oslo University - with Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
5th Apr - Klubb Ankaret, Gothenburg, Sweden - with SISKIN Quartet
8th Mar - Riksscenen, Oslo, Norway - solo - SOLO album launch
24th Feb - Umeå Festival, Sweden - with SISKIN Quartet
23rd Feb - Stallet, Stockholm, Sweden - with SISKIN Quartet
8th Feb - Riksscenen, Oslo, Norway - with SISKIN Quartet
2nd Feb, 19.30 - Celtic Connections, New Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - with Juhani Silvola
28th Jan, 13.00 - Celtic Connections New Voices Commission, Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
27th Jan - Celtic Connections, Bothy Culture & Beyond, Grit Orchestra with Danny MacAskill, The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
17th Jan - Bitches Brew, Traverse Theatre, Glasgow - solo improv set
2017
6th-22nd March - Rikskonsertene School Concerts, Norway - with Juhani Silvola
29th March - Rauland, Norway - with Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
7th April - Le Gésu, Montréal, Canada - with Bozzini Quartet & Monty Adkins, "Water's Edge"
2nd June - Kulturkirke Jakob, Oslo, Norway - with Solfrid Molland
3rd June - King's Place, London, UK - 'Vindauga | Wind Eye' with Sam Lee, Unni Løvlid, Andreas Utnem, Erlend Apneseth & Juhani Silvola
11th June - Oddnose Festival, Nesodden, Norway - with Juhani Silvola
13th June - Kantorissimo, Nesodden Kirke - A Scottish Ayre - with Ingeborg Christophersen, Gunnar Hauge & Juhani Silvola
17th June - Nepal Festival, Falun, Sweden - with Juhani Silvola
11th July - Kaustinen Folk Festival, Finland (21.00-22.00, Pelimannitalo) - with Juhani Silvola
12th July - Kaustinen Folk Festival, Finland (15.45-16.30, Iholla Hall) - with Juhani Silvola
27th July - Sommarljom 2017 Ørsta, Norway - with Juhani Silvola
19th Aug - Geiteberg Folk Festival, Norway - with Juhani Silvola
1st Sept - Kulturkirke Jakob, Oslo, Norway - with Solfrid Molland
3rd Sept - 14.00 - Kirkekaffe i Rådhuset, Oslo, Norway - with Solfrid Molland
3rd Sept - 18.00 - Gallakonsett, Kulturkirke Jakob, Oslo, Norway - with Solfrid Molland
7th Sept - 20.00 - Cappelens Forslag, Bernt Ankers gate 4B, 0183 Oslo - VIRR release concert
15th Sept - Granvin Kulturhus, Seljord - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola/Kvam
16th Sept - Hølen Kunstcafe, Kolbotn - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola/Kvam
17th Sept - Hellviktangen, Nesodden- Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinhold & Summers/Silvola/Kvam
22nd Sept - Bellman, Notodden - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
23rd Sept - Verdensteateret, Rjukan - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
24th Sept - Ælvespeilet, Porsgrunn - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
27th Sep - Harald Kihle Galleriet, Horten - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt
20th Oct - 14.00 - Fagforbundets landsmøte 2017, Oslo Kongressenter, Norway - with Solfrid Molland
27th Oct - Osafestivalen, Voss, Norway (at 20.00) - with Juhani Silvola
28th Oct - Osafestivalen, Voss, Norway (at 15.30) - with Juhani Silvola
12th Nov - Tøyen Kirke, Oslo - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola/Kvam
18th Nov - Transvocale, Frankfurt a.d. Oder, Germany - with Juhani Silvola
19th Nov - Westflügel, Syke - with Juhani Silvola
22nd Nov - Die Fetzerei, Krone Alt-Hoheneck, Ludwigsburg - with Juhani Silvola
23rd Nov - Jazzaround the World Festival, Puchheim - with Juhani Silvola
24th Nov - Der Schallplattenmann, Erlangen - with Juhani Silvola
26th Nov Rupert Folkclub, Nürnberg - with Juhani Silvola
14th Dec Biermannsgården (solo improv/trad)
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