We are thrilled to welcome back the amazing Little Sparrow, making her annual pilgrimage to perform at our intimate venue. Another cracker!
Katie formed Little Sparrow in 2010, a title that came from Elbow front man Guy Garvey. He affectionately called her 'Cockney Sparrow’ which lead onto her stage name ‘Little Sparrow'.
She performs regularly with a band of talented musicians that provide a mix of harmonies, strings, guitars, pedal steel and percussion.
The self release of her debut album 'Wishing Tree' in 2014 had tracks featured on BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing Manchester, Merseyside & Devon along with regular regional and international play.
2015 proved to be a great year with her playing Manchester International Festival, Liverpool International Music Festival & Blackthorn Festival.
Also supporting established folk favourites such as Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Blue Rose Code, The Cadbury Sisters and Beth Rowley for her sell out London date at St Pancras Old Church in London.
2016 saw Little Sparrow film a series of live videos with her band - using innovative, state of the art 360 degree technology, filmed at MediacityUK, dock10 studios, which can be found via YouTube.
Katie went on to play Kendal Calling Festival, Sidmouth Fringe Festival and Green Gathering. Laurel Canyon Music website voted her ‘New Artist of The Year’ and 2017 started with her being invited to play on BBC Breakfast TV.
2018 saw a gentle return to music after the birth of her son in 2016.
Little Sparrow released a 3 track EP called 'Just 3', a collaboration with pianist and composer Robin Dewhurst (father to Josh Dewhurst from band Blossoms), and cellist Sarah Dale. Katie met Robin at Kendal Calling in 2016, they performed at the Tim Peaks Diner and were asked to cover 'Baggy Trousers' by Madness by the Tim Peaks Team. This created a lovely new musical relationship which went on to create 'Just 3’.
All three songs received airplay, Chris Hawkins from BBC 6Music played ‘Tender’ and ‘Baggy Trousers’. Blue’s and Roots Radio of Canada made ‘Dry Your Eyes’ a ‘Daily Featured Artist’ track for six weeks.
Katie played Liverpool Philharmonic in April, then Theatre Clwyd, Wales later in the year singing alongside Bonnie Dobson and Elfin Bow. She sold out her return appearance in Manchester, her home town, at The Bridgewater Hall in late November, with rave reviews.
2019 Katie released ‘Corner Of The Room’ a single which displayed a new musical direction for her, certainly darker than previous works - with a video to match - and although the same glorious, soaring voice that characterises all her songs is still there, it is in a more dramatic direction that much of the new album is travelling.
2020 saw the release of ‘Tears’, a song originally written by her father Mick Ware. Her father enjoyed a successful music career back in the 70’s and was a huge influence on Katie’s songwriting when growing up. This included a home studio and recording with her father regularly when only a little girl.
Mick Ware enjoyed new fame in 2019 when Tyler the Creator sampled one of his songs ‘Today’ on a track ‘Puppet’ which featured on his album ‘Igor’.
Late 2021 saw the welcome return to live music, which Little Sparrow embraced.
Little Sparrow
With sold out shows and a support slot with Eddi Reader, this encouraged Little Sparrow to put more dates together in 2022.
Latest release ‘Alone’ was out July 2021, it will feature on the forthcoming album ‘Feather Moon’.
Releases:
'Wishing Tree' - (Album) - May 2014 'Polly' - (EP) - July 2014
'Struck Gold' (EP) - December 2014 'Wishing Tree'/'Garden' (Single) - July 2015 'Tender' (Single) - December 2017 ‘Just 3’ (EP) - July 2018
Corner Of The Room (Single) - June 2019 Tears (Single) - Oct 2020
Alone - July 2021
Quotes:
"A breathtaking vocalist delivering original and beautiful songs. An incredibly gifted songwriter with a great stage presence and a gorgeous voice.”
Chris Hawkins - BBC 6Music and BBC Radio 2
"Her voice is pure and lovely and she possesses a natural talent as a writer and singer."
Simon Raymond - Bella Union Records
“Wishing Tree’s arrival on my doormat is one of the few times when an album from an artist I have never heard of has come through the letterbox and turned out to be a stone-cold masterpiece.” RnR Magazine - review for debut album ‘Wishing tree”
“Absolutely fantastic - A remarkable talent” - Janice Long - BBC Radio 2
The older I get, the harder it is for me to be impressed. But today, I was impressed. I really think
some of you will LOVE this! - Julianne Regan - All About Eve
“Glorious that isn't it” - Dave Monks - BBC Introducing Merseyside “How incredible those vocals are, how Kate Bush-esque it sounds.”
Vicky Hawksworth - BBC Introducing Manchester.
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