Renowned singer-songwriter Sarah Carroll will conclude the tour for her new album, NQR&B, with a special performance at the Barwon Club on Sunday, September 22.
Carroll will be accompanied by her band, The Big Fuss, featuring guitarists Shannon Bourne and Leigh Ivin, as well as her sons Fenn on drums and George on bass. Special guest Jack Meredith will join them on harmonica.
Though affectionately dubbed the Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine, Carroll’s album reveals her diverse talents. She plays lead vocals, guitars, electric and upright basses, glockenspiel, and various percussion instruments. The album also includes contributions from Tim Neal on keys and clarinet, and local musician and sound engineer Jasper Jolley on bass, keyboards, and pedal steel.
Carroll describes the album as a reflection of “compassion for oneself, hope, and honest reflection.”
“These are the core themes connecting the songs,” she said. “They cover a range of topics but primarily focus on life and the lessons learned over the past decade.”
The track “Done To” is a response to the confinement experienced during COVID and the unexpected benefits of that period.
“I found beauty in the way people came together, showing care and compassion for one another,” Carroll said. “It was a time that revealed a small community spirit that I found truly beautiful.”
Her late husband, Chris Wilson, is a significant presence throughout NQR&B, but the album’s tone is more celebratory than sorrowful.
Performing these songs with her sons and close friends has been both “wonderful and comforting” for Carroll.
“Shannon and Leigh were very close to Chris, so the songs about grief and him are especially meaningful to me,” she explained. “Having a band of people who deeply understand and invest their all into these tunes has been a blessing. I couldn’t have done it any other way.”
