Spring is a time of re-awakening, new growth, and hope, and a perfect time to enjoy the joyous and inspiring songs of Sarah Goslee Reed, who will be performing at Arcanum Historical Society’s Wayne Trail House on Thursday, March 31, as part of Darke County Center for the Arts’ Coffeehouse Series. Her insightful original songs tell stories of the natural world, love and loss, and much more, capturing the spirit of Spring in all its complexity.
Sarah, whose parents were musicians, grew up surrounded by music. After learning to play the violin at a very young age, she was inspired by her love of folk music and The Beatles to teach herself to play the guitar while in her teens. Although she became a micro-biologist, she never put aside her love for music, eventually retiring from her scientific career and devoting the past twenty-plus years to performing for audiences throughout the region. For much of that time, she enjoyed a partnership with local favorite Lisa Biales in the award-winning duo Prairie Orchid which has provided several memorable shows for local students as part of DCCA’s Arts In Education program. Educators and students might remember Prairie Orchid’s fun-filled and beautiful songs based on tales from classic children’s literature; my personal favorite is “Owl Moon,” a hauntingly lovely take on the beloved book of the same name, that entranced and entertained local primary students while motivating them to read the book.
The rural Mount Vernon, Ohio resident is blessed with a powerful and richly beautiful voice, as well as the ability to capture the feel of the Ohio countryside in her compositions. Sarah’s recording Plenty has been described as a “cornucopia of songs about the earth, the garden, planting trees, and feeding the soul… woven through with bittersweet meditations about life and the passing of years.” Her latest CD, It’s About Time, pays tribute to her father while evoking an innocent state of wonder in songs about flashing fireflies and laughing children.
“She achieves a remarkable balance between sounding openly vulnerable and vitally, quietly unstoppable,” one reviewer writes, who goes on to say that Sarah’s mastery of the vocabulary of American folk music is so complete that she makes it seem easy to throw together a tune, a few words, and a couple of chords. Sarah Goslee Reed’s music is down-to-earth, while at the same time uplifting, achieving the perfect balance of colors and moods to entertain audiences of all ages.
The Wayne Trail House provides a perfect venue for this Coffeehouse concert; imagine sitting in a cozy living room with a group of friends and neighbors happily listening to an accomplished performer singing songs that relate to the lives of us all. Well, you don’t have to imagine it; that will be the reality enjoyed by those attending the show. Adding to the inviting ambience, friendly hosts from Arcanum Historical Society will provide luscious and creative food and drink to be enjoyed by attendees for a small donation.
Tickets for the Sarah Goslee Reed concert are just $10, and can be obtained by contacting DCCA at 937-547-0908 or [email protected], or purchased on-line at www.centerforarts.net and at DCCA’s office located in the Greenville Public Library. Celebrate Spring with Sarah; she’ll help you feel empowered to face the mercurial whims of the season of wind and rain and hope and renewal. The show starts at 7 p.m.; be there!
