Some artists write songs. Others tell stories. Sarah Gillespie creates entire worlds.
Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre is proud to welcome one of Britain's most acclaimed and uncompromising contemporary singer-songwriters for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of jazz, folk, Americana and lyrical brilliance.
Few performers occupy such a unique musical landscape. Drawing effortlessly from smoky jazz clubs, Greenwich Village coffee houses, late-night Paris cafés and the rich storytelling traditions of Americana, Sarah Gillespie has spent the past fifteen years building a reputation as one of the UK's most intelligent, fearless and original artists. Her songs are cinematic, sophisticated and deeply human — full of wit, romance, political insight and beautifully observed moments that linger long after the music fades.
Her remarkable career has taken her from the intimate surroundings of Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London to Blue Note Milano, the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room, and even New York's legendary CBGB, captivating audiences throughout Europe and America. Yet despite international acclaim, Sarah has never lost the intimacy that makes every performance feel as though she's singing directly to each listener in the room — making Barnoldswick's celebrated listening room the perfect setting.
Critics have struggled to compare her with anyone else.
Legendary musician Robert Wyatt simply said:
"A unique way with words... terrific guitar playing... not just great songs but totally original music. Brilliant... the bee's knees."
The Guardian described her as:
"An incandescent presence with superior lyrics." ????
While MOJO hailed her as:
"A beat poet adventurer who strays beyond the realm of singer-songwriter." ????
Her acclaimed album Wishbones was hailed by The Arts Desk as:
"Alive with characteristic wit, savvy and sensitivity... Album of the Year." ?????
The Financial Times memorably called her:
"Like Dylan on amphetamines." ????
Jazzwise praised her:
"Her witty, free-flowing originals have a beat poet's eye for observation." ????
More recently, Americana UK wrote:
"It'll be mere moments after hearing Sarah Gillespie's vocals that you'll understand why she attracts Tom Waits comparisons."
Whilst RnR Magazine concluded:
"Superior lyrics and compositional acumen flourish in the hands of a truly powerful band." ?????
Holding an MA in Philosophy and Politics, Gillespie writes with an intelligence rarely found in contemporary music. Her songs weave together jazz sophistication, folk storytelling and Americana soul, exploring love, society, politics and the complexities of modern life with warmth, humour and astonishing emotional depth. It's little wonder she has appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, Loose Ends and Start the Week, where she has become as respected for her eloquence as for her music.
Away from the stage, Sarah is equally admired as a mentor and creative force. Through her Create Now Academy, She Writes Songs initiative and Pastiche Records, she continues to inspire a new generation of writers and performers while remaining one of Britain's most consistently adventurous recording artists.
Music that whispers rather than shouts. Music that swings with effortless cool before stopping you in your tracks with a single line of devastating beauty. Music that belongs in candlelit jazz clubs, smoky late-night bars and intimate listening rooms where every word can breathe.
If your musical heroes include Joni Mitchell, Tom Waits, Rickie Lee Jones, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, Madeleine Peyroux or the poetic elegance of the ECM jazz scene, then Sarah Gillespie may well become your next great discovery.
On Friday 13th November 2026, Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre presents an artist operating at the very highest level of British songwriting. Elegant. Fearless. Sophisticated. Deeply moving.
One of London's finest jazz singer-songwriters. Up close. In one of Europe's most intimate grassroots music venues.
This won't simply be a concert... it will be an evening to remember.
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