FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Debbie Siegelman
(619) 843-3555
info@sarapetite.com
Americana artist Sara Petite to release “Lead the Parade” CD,
Sunday, March 30 at the Belly Up Tavern
San Diego-based singer-songwriter Sara Petite will release her 2nd CD, “Lead the Parade,” from 4–7 p.m., Mar. 30, at the Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros St. in Solana Beach, Calif.
The CD features a collection of 12 songs (plus ghost track), all written by Petite. Inspiration for the songs comes from broken hearts, tiny Paris apartments, funerals, imaginary parades and tall tales from Tiger Mountain, a place where Petite’s family still has roots. Other themes include social justice and men that come on too strong. Recorded at DoubleTime Studios in Santee, the album serves up a diverse and delicious palate of musical styles ranging from alternative country to bluegrass and roots rock.
The first song and title track “Lead the Parade” is the tale of her grandmother’s funeral, a Scarlet O’hara-type event as seen through a wistful dream.
“The Secret,” a song Petite co-wrote with Nashville-based writer Kenny Greenberg, exposes the thoughts of a young girl who sneaks off to see a secret beau that her momma doesn’t know about. Greenberg was named 2005 Nashville Guitar Player of the Year, and has written hits such as SHeDAISY’s “Little Goodbyes” and Trick Pony’s “Nobody Dies from a Broken Heart.”)
“Paris Incident” hints at an affair with a Roma-Gypsy musician in Paris. The upbeat “Buy Me a Ticket” is a plea to a coal miner to buy his daughter a ticket for the train, in hopes that she will come back and help her family get out of coal mining.
The bluegrass-influenced “Uncle Irving” is a tribute to her colorful Uncle, an eclectic nature writer who raised a bear, chickens, pigs, goats and other animals in his home. “Dead Man Walking” looks at the last minutes of death-row inmate, as he takes his final steps down the aisle to pay the ultimate penalty for a crime.
Other songs include “Little Girl,” which looks at unkept promises and broken dreams, and “Heaven Bound,” a vision of the ways love affects us.
In addition to Petite, the album features several musicians, including renowned bluegrass musician Dennis Caplinger (fiddle, mandolin, banjo). Sugar Daddies band members, Johnny Kuhlken (drums/percussion), Wade Maurer (electric and upright bass) and Rick Wilkins (lead and rhythm guitar). Tiger Mountain Boy, David Banjoski (banjo) and the 7th Day Buskers’ Shawn Rohlf (banjo, mandolin). Alex Watts (lead and rhythm guitar) of Bastards Sons of Johnny Cash and Working Cowboy Band plays on “Lead the Parade” and “The Secret.” Mighty Joe Longa from Joey Harris and the Mentals plays a Hammond organ on “Dead Man Walking” and honky-tonk piano on the reprise version of “Lead the Parade,” which appears as a ghost track. Backing vocalists include: Siobhan O’Brien, Irish folk singer and niece of renowned ’60s Irish pop singer Brendon Bowyer (www.brendanbowyer.com); Annie Dru of the Flimz; and Jeff Berkely of Berkley-Hart.
Also performing at Petite’s CD release is Siobhan O’Brien from Limerick, Ireland, who will be sitting in with the Chieftains at Boston’s Symphony Hall on Mar. 14. A huge Bob Dylan fan, Siobhan has supported groups and acts such as: Henry McCullough, Donovan, Christy Moore, the Cranberries, Maria McKee, Sharon Shannon & Mick Flannery. Her first solo EP “Mumbo Jumbo,” received critical acclaim throughout Ireland. Her second EP, “Like a Habit,” charted No. 4 in the Irish Indie charts.
The release event also features
The Slidewinders (www.slidewinders.com), lead by longtime North San Diego County country-rockers, Kenny Newberry and Dennis Challman of the 70s band Stagecoach, along with Tim Butler of Hot Rod Lincoln and The Rockin’ Aces, among others. With members from different bands spreading from San Diego to Santa Cruz and south to Austin, Texas, the band initially formed to play at the Gram Parsons Memorial Festival in Joshua Tree. Individually they've played with artists such as Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Rosie Flores, The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, Hot Rod Lincoln, Rancho Deluxe and countless others through the years.
What started out as a once or twice a year get together quickly turned into a whirlwind of many appearances not only at Gram Fest, but shows with Heather Myles, Moot Davis & Pete Anderson, Tim Flannery & Doug Pettibone, Eve Selis, The Dark Horses, Bucksworth and others.
Petite’s debut CD, “Tiger Mountain,” released in 2006, included three songs that went on to win, or place highly, in various songwriting competitions, including the Great Water Folk Festival (finalist), the International Songwriting Competition (Semi-finalist) in Nashville, TN, and the 2007 Portland Songwriting Contest (grand-prize winner).
