ABOUT SARA
Sara was the opening act for us, we loved her sound, songs and band. She’s a beautiful singer and storyteller”ARIA award winning Busby Marou
Sara O’Connor graduated from Wollongong University with a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in classical singing under the guidance of Jane Edwards. After attending Opera Australia’s youth program, she was inspired by the likes of Mitchell Butel and Wendy Dixon to pursue a career as a singer. She has since been tutored by Freddie Wilson, Nicky Crayson, Joy Yates, Fay Victor (NYC)and is now respected by her contemporaries as a multi-genre vocalist having performedtogether with some of the country’s most celebrated songwriters and performers.
Eagerto perform and make her way in the Sydney music scene, Sara was a member of the many bands including Sway,The Velvet Set, The BlackandWhite Big Band,The Regent Street Big Band, The Hollywood Honeys, and DJ Meem’s Live Set. In 2010 DJ Meem’s Live Set appeared as the opening act for Grammy nominated Sharon Jones and the Dap Kingsat the Enmore Theatre. In 2015 Sara and DJ Meem co-wrote a self-titled EP of Electro Swing music. The release was produced by Tim Currnick (Rita Ora/Missy Higgins).Her various bands also appeared at Field Day, Pete’s Ridge Festival, Parklife, Live at The Foreshore. They have performed at The Forum Theatre (Melb), Tivoli (Bne),Enmore Theatre, Sydney Metro, Factory Theatre, The Basement, Star City Casino, The Opera Bar and many more.In the following years, Sara started her own jazz band, Sara Jeanne and the City Gents. The band found their way into the hearts of the Swing Dancing community performing regularly at festivals, events and venues around the country.
Sara is now a solo artist and continues toperform with her Jazzensemble featuring some of Australia’s finest musicians George Washingmachine, Peter Locke, Dan Holland, Grahame Conlon, Adam Barnard, Tony Barnard, Rachelle ‘Boostie’ Booth, Louise Horwood, Nigel Date, John Blenkhorn, Tom Wade, Stan Valacos and more.
In 2017 Sara began writing original Country music with ARIA nominated Phil Stack (Thirsty Merc) and Terresa Maree Allen together they have produced an EP (Rollin’) and full album (Dark All Day). Both recordings reflect her travels to Antarctica and the Arctic. Sara recently released a new single called Balance Point and has new material due out soon. The cover art for Dark All Daywas painted by Archibald winnerWendy Sharpe. Wendy and Sara met on board ship to the Artic.
Featured on Dark All Day are Phil Stack (producer),Carl Dewhirst, Evan Mannell andMatt McMahon. Sara has performed her original work at Tamworth Country Music Festivaland gigs regularly at Sydney venues. In 2022 they were booked to support Kasey Chambers and were the opening act for Busby Marou atTunes on the Grass festival in Hay, NSW. She was also the opening act forRed Hot Summer Tour with Paul Mason and Aaron Flower, they supportedJimmy Barnes, Hoodoo Gurus, Jon Stevens, Diesel, Chris Cheney, Vika & Linda.
Sara is currentlyperforming regularly with her Country band that includesArtie Taylor (Keith Urban/James Blundell), Blake Dantier (Adam Harvey) and Pete Evans (Slim Dusty/Trisha Yearwood). The line-up in this band is undeniably impressive. Collectively they have been recognised globally for their work, not only in Australia by ARIA and the Golden Guitarsbut Pete has also won two Academy Country Music awards (USA).
Sara is also a lead singer withAustralia’spioneer Ska band The Allniters. The band formed in 1980 and Sara joined them in 2017. In 2013 ‘Montego Bay’ was voted as one of the top 100 songs of all time in Australia.The Allniters tour regularly and continue to play festivals including Live at the Foreshoreand venues such asThe Triffid (Brisbane), The Corner Hotel (Melbourneand Paddington RSL (Sydney).
Country band bio
Picture you’re down in a nostalgic honky tonk bar. A country song is humbly filling the silence between the barflies murmuring – it’s probably even coming from an actual jukebox, bathed in red neon. Crying steel licks… fiddles and guitars… That’s Blake Dantier (Adam Harvey).
Artie Taylor (Bass, Vocals) has been the go to man for inner city roots music in Sydney for over 20 years. Artie has it all covered from Rockabilly, Swing, RnB, Country and Jazz. He has performed with Tommy Fleming, The Yeehaa Boys, Debra Conway, Kathryn Britt, Sara Storer, James Blundell, Keith Urban and Ray Beadle. Artie has also performed in the musical theatre shows ‘The Buddy Holly Story”, ‘Love Always –Patsy Cline’ and ‘Cash the Concert’
Peter Clarke (Drums) has performed and recorded internationally with Keith Urban, The Ranch, Slim Dusty, Trisha Yearwood, Big House, Lee Kernaghan and Doc Neeson to name but a few. Peter spent most of the nineties living in the USA touring and playing to huge audiences and has won two ACM awards and been nominated for another as well as an ARIA
