top of page

SARAH-JANE SUMMERS

TRADITIONAL & EXPERIMENTAL STRINGS // COMPOSITION

"A HOWLING GALE, BRILLIANTLY EVOKED" (THE WIRE)

"DAZZLING FOLK VIRTUOSO" (THE STRAD)

  • Spotify Social Icon
  • Bandcamp
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
WEBRES-DSC_9240-Edit.jpg
 © Andreas Ulvo
BIOG

 

SARAH-JANE SUMMERS

"wild, adventurous & exciting" (The Glasgow Herald)

"dazzling folk virtuoso" (The Strad)

Versatile, free-thinking, impassioned.

 

Blending the lyricism of traditional music with the rawness of improvisation.

 

Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola

Spelemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) 2021 - nomination

Top of the World status, Songlines for all 4 albums

"magnificent...absolute masters of their instruments" (Songlines)

"dazzling album" (fRoots)

Experimental Music

 

Album of the Year 2017, Late Junction, BBC Radio 3

"a howling gale, brilliantly evoked" (The Wire)

“very modern, avant-garde soloing...compelling & gripping” (Free Jazz Collective)

"ranging from avant garde classical music over eerie folk to harsh, intense outbursts of free jazz...a unique album"

(Merchants of Air)

“Gjennom fjorten frapperende fiolinstykker...skaper hun øyeblikk av stort musikalsk nærvær”

(Audun Vinger, jazznytt)

Traditional

"dazzling folk virtuoso" (The Strad)

“A phenomenal collection of music, true solo fiddle with no safety net, this is hard core...fiddling from one of the best...simply outstanding” (Folkworld)

Composition

How to Raise the Wind

commission, Nordlysfestivalen 2022, with Juhani Silvola

Máni

commission, Vossajazz 2022, with Benedicte Maurseth

Sølvstrøk

Oslo World 2020/Førdefestivalen 2021, with Juhani Silvola

 

Tha Thu Air Aigeann M'Inntinn

BBC/Catriona Black

 

As The World Turns 

video by Semiconductor 

Owerset

Celtic Connections commission 2018

"a bravura performance, both compositionally & instrumentally"(The Strad)

 

AWARDS / NOMINATIONS / RECOGNITIONS//

 

The Smoky Smirr o Rain

Norwegian Grammy 2021 - nomination

Top of the World, Songlines

SOLO

Album of the Year, The Scots Trad Music Awards - long list

VIRR

Album of the Year, Late Junction, BBC Radio 3

Widdershins

Top of the World, Songlines 

Album of the Year, The Scots Trad Music Awards - long list

Sarah-Jane Summers & Juhani Silvola

 

Top of the World, Songlines

Songlines logo
fRoots 5/5 Play List logo

ABOUT//

 

where//

Scottish, based in Norway

 

genres//

traditional Scottish/Norwegian, improvised, experimental

 

favourite things//

rain, wind, dark chocolate

hobbies//

abstract photography, dictionaries

 

websites//

www.sarah-janesummers.com

www.sarahjanejuhani.com

 

label//

Eighth Nerve Audio

LATEST RELEASE - THE SMOKY SMIRR O RAIN//

RELEASES (selection)//

The Smoky Smirr o Rain - Summers/Silvola (2021)

 

VINJEFOLK (EP) - Vinjefolk (2019)

OWERSET - Sarah-Jane Summers (2019)

KALOPSIA - Sarah-Jane Summers (2019)

BOZZINI+ - Quatuor Bozzini & Summers etc (2018)

SOLO - Sarah-Jane Summers (2018)

VIRR - Sarah-Jane Summers (2017)

Widdershins - Summers/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)

Also appears on (amongst others)//

The Bare Romantic - HIGHASAKITE (2020)

Songen om Guro - Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt (2017)

Strange Flowers - Juhani Silvola (2016)

Halley - Comet Kid (Sony Music 2015)

Gach Sgeul - Julie Fowlis (2014 with RANT)

Babylove - Ingrid Håvik (2013)

Window's A Fall - Sacred Harp (2011)

Videos

VIDEOS//

LIVE DATES

LIVE PERFORMANCES//

2023

25th Nov -  Lochaber Music for All, Fort William - How to Raise the Wind

24th Nov -  Aberdeen University - How to Raise the Wind

23rd Nov -  Music at the University, Glasgow University, 1pm - How to Raise the Wind

22nd Nov -  Gatehouse Music Society, Gatehouse of Fleet - How to Raise the Wind

11th Nov - Parma Jazz, Italy - Máni with Benedicte Maurseth & Randiane Sandboe

25-29 Sep - DKS, Oslo - with Tiril Bryn

16th Sep - Ceilidh, Oslo Scottish Country Dance Group

10th Sep - Utne (children's concert) - Finn Skotten, Summers/Silvola

9th Sep - Ælvespeilet, Porsgrunn (children's concert) - Finn Skotten, Summers/Silvola

5th Aug - Oslo Chamber Music Festival - Máni with Benedicte Maurseth & Randiane Sandboe

12/13 May - Folk Baltica, Germany - Summers/Silvola

22nd Apr - Nesodden Jazzklubb, Flasken (barnekonsert) - Finn Skotten, Summers/Silvola

15th Apr - JazzPrisen, Skien - duo with Hilde Marie Holsen

12th Apr - Munch Museum, Oslo - Máni with Benedicte Maurseth & Randiane Sandboe

27th Mar - MIR, Oslo - Summers/Silvola & Jonas Cambien

26th Mar - Veitvet Kulturhus (children's concert) - Finn Skotten, Summers/Silvola

23rd Mar - Tromsø - Summers/Silvola

07-09 Mar - Teaching at Barratt Due, Oslo - with Jon Halvor Bjørnseth

19th Feb - LilleRiksen, Riksscenen - Timelines - Summers & Gregor Riddell

4th Feb - Gjettum - Storytelling & Fiddle Concert with Angela Halvorsen Bogo

29th Jan - The Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - How to Raise the Wind - Summers/Silvola & String 5tet

 

14th Jan - Ceilidh, Fetsund - with James Gray

2022

21st Dec - Elverhøy Kirke, Tromsø - Christmas Concerts, Nord Norge - with Harald Bakkeby Moe

19th Dec - Nordreisa Kirke - Christmas Concerts, Nord Norge - with Harald Bakkeby Moe

10th Dec - Tøyenkirke, Oslo - with Fauna

9th Dec - Gamle Aker Kirke, Akersbakken 30, 0172 Oslo - with Pitsj

12th Nov - Kaamospelit, Lobby Myyrmäki, Jönsaksentie 6 A, 01600 Vantaa, Finland - Summers/Silvola

 

6th Nov - Blårollinger (children's concert), Nordic Black Theatre, Oslo - Finn Skotten - Summers/Silvola


4th Nov - String Quartet version of Morning Prayer @ Strykeklang I, NMK konsertserie, Cafeteateret, Oslo

29th Oct - A Very Scottish Hallowe'en Celebration, with Angela Halvorsen Bogo

28th Oct - Flasken, Nesodden, Norway - Summers/Silvola

27th Oct - Teaching, Osafestivalen, Voss

26-30 Sep - Games of Trees, DKS, Oslo - Tiril Byrn

15th Sep - Riksscenen, Oslo, Norway - Siskin Quartet - album release

3rd Sep - Riksscenen, Oslo, Norway - Sigrun Eng - premier of 'Yirdlings', commission for solo cello

28th Aug - Café Sør, Oslo - Summers/Silvola

27th Aug - Impra Jazz, Stockholm, Sweden - with Silent Fires

15th Aug - Arendalsuka, Norway - Summers/Silvola

20th July - Fanø Folk Festival, Denmark - Evelina Petrova Trio

20th July - Fanø Folk Festival, Denmark - solo

26th Jun - Bønsnes Kirke, Norway - Summers/Silvola

11th Jun - Dei Nynorske Festspela - with Benedicte Maurseth

14th May  - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness Fiddlers Fiddlers' Rally, Scotland - Summers/Silvola

29 & 30 Apr - Oberlethe, Germany - Summers/Silvola

28 Apr - Rosier Event & Gastronomie, Hatten, Germany - Summers/Silvola

20/21 Apr - Nordic Folk Alliance - Summers/Silvola

12th Apr - Blow Out! - solo

9th Apr - Vossajazz - with Benedicte Maurseth

23rd Mar - NyMusikk, Cafetheateret - Solo (as part of Cikada concert)

15th Mar - Nesodden Kirke - Kelda Quartet

5th Feb -  Salangen KulturhusSummers/Silvola & String Quintet - How To Raise The Wind

4th Feb -  Mellembygd Kultur og Oppvekstsenter Summers/Silvola & String Quintet - How To Raise The Wind

3rd Feb -  Harstad KulturhusSummers/Silvola & String Quintet - How To Raise The Wind

2nd Feb - Nordlysfestivalen, Tromsø - Summers/Silvola & String Quintet - How To Raise The Wind (commission)

2021

21st Dec -  Everhøy Kirke, Tromsø - Harald Bakkeby Mo / Silvola / Ildeikin - cancelled

20th Dec - Nordreisa Kirke, Storslett - Harald Bakkeby Mo / Silvola / Ildeikin - cancelled

29th Oct - Setesdal - Burns på Dialekt

28th Oct - Granvin House, Seljord - Burns på Dialekt

9th Oct - Badstufest, Vang - Summers/Silvola

25th Sep - Ultimafestivalen, Oslo - Susanna

6th Sep - Columbi Egg, Bergen - Burns på Dialekt

14th Aug - Kalottspel, Målselv - Summers/Silvola

12th Aug - Telemarkfestivalen 

24th July - Heme Dine  - Summers/Silvola

 

9th July - Førdefestivalen - Summers/Silvola & Sølvstrøk

24th June - Victoria, National Jazz Scene, Oslo - Motvind - Jonas Cambien Maca Conu

27th May - Farsund- Burns på Norsk & Summers/Silvola

26th May - Klepp i Rogaland - Burns på Norsk

23rd May - Nesodden Jazzfestival - POING & Maja Ratkje + Juliana Venter, Jarle Vespestad, Summers/Silvola

28th Apr - 2nd May - Germany - Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED 

21st Apr - Raulandsakademiet - Summers/Silvola

9th Apr - St. Croix Huset, Fredrikstad - Burns på Dialekt (Å.Nordstoga, Reinholdt, Summers, Silvola, Kvam)

8th Apr - Riksscenen, Oslo - Burns på Dialekt (Å.Nordstoga, Reinholdt, Summers, Silvola, Kvam)

6th Mar - Eden Court Theatre, Inverness Fiddlers Fiddlers' Rally - Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED

25th Feb - Riksscenen, Oslo - Summers/Silvola

24th Feb - Folk Unlocked - Summers/Silvola

2020

18th Nov - Seljord - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED

10th Nov - Lyngheimtunet - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED

9th Nov - Columbi Egg, Bergen - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED

1st Nov - Moss Kulturhus - with Oslo Kammerorkester & Juhani Silvola - CANCELLED

29th Oct - Riksscenen, Oslo - with Oslo Kammerorkester & Juhani Silvola

23rd Oct - Vinjehuset, 3890 Vinje - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola

16th Oct - Victoria, Oslo - with Susanna, Go Dig My Grave

23rd Sept - Ibsenhuset, Skien - with Åsmund Nordstoga/Ingebjørg Lognvik Reinholdt & Summers/Silvola

27-29th Aug - Farsund Folk Festival - with Juhani Silvola

25-31 July - Teaching at Alasdair Fraser's fiddle camp. Sabhal Mór Ostaig, Isle of Skye - CANCELLED

3rd July -  Motvind - with Jonas Cambien - CANCELLED

10th June - Nesodden Kirke, Nesodden - with Kelda Quartet - CANCELLED

13th May - Bærum Kulturhus - Summers/Silvola - CANCELLED

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 JulySommarljom 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)

CONTACT

CONTACT//

Join our mailing list

Never miss an update

bottom of page