Sara Ullrika Watkins
(born June 8, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1999 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group, Nickel Creek, which consists of herself and her elder brother, Sean, as well as mandolinist Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums: Nickel Creek
, This Side
, and Why Should the Fire Die?
. Aside from singing and fiddling, she can play the ukulele and the guitar.
With Nickel Creek, she has released five studio albums, one compilation album, and seven singles. Nickel Creek are currently on hiatus to branch off into new projects, and Sara is pursuing a solo career, having released her debut, Sara Watkins
, on Nonesuch Records on April 7, 2009. [1]
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SARA WATKINS TICKETS
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Biography
1999-2007: Nickel Creek
{{#if:September 2007{{#ifexist:Category:Articles to be expanded since September 2007
2007-Present: Solo career
In late 2005, Watkins stated in a
PopMatters interview when discussing her first solo-written recorded song, "Anthony", that she "definitely [makes] the effort [to write more], but it's something that doesn't come too easy for me. Nor does it come really easy for the guys, I think they've just been doing it for a very long time."
[2]
Watkins plans to release her self titled debut solo album on
Nonesuch Records on April 7, 2009.
Watkins started recording the album in February 2008, and it was jointly recorded in
Nashville and Los Angeles.
Sara Watkins
was produced by bassist
John Paul Jones of
Led Zeppelin fame, who first performed with Watkins on a
Mutual Admiration Society tour in 2004.
[3]
Watkins toured the United States as an opening in the spring and fall of 2008.
She performed short tours as an opening act for
singer-songwriter Tift Merritt along the
West Coast in March and April,
[4] Robert Earl Keen around
New England in September,
as well as a 17-date tour with
Donavon Frankenreiter in October. On April 14th, 2009, she appeared on
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with
John Paul Jones on bass,
Questlove of
The Roots on drums, and her brother
Sean Watkins on guitar.
Other projects
In 2002, Watkins starred in an advertisement for
cell phone provider
Cingular Wireless (now
AT&T Mobility) alongside her former fiddle teacher Dennis Caplinger, as well as other prominent bluegrass artists.
[5] Los Angeles session musician
Gabe Witcher was originally offered the gig, but was asked to back out because of a casting desire for a "female fiddler."
[6]
The 2007
documentary film Arctic Tale
featured a song by Watkins and musician
Grant-Lee Phillips, titled "Song of the North (Beneath the Sun)." Watkins lent her vocal talents to be used in the film alongside other performers such as
Aimee Mann and
Brian Wilson.
[7]
In January 2008, it was reported by
Billboard that a new
supergroup octet tentatively named
The Scrolls
, but now officially named Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). The octet is composed of Watkins, her brother
Sean Watkins (guitar),
Glen Phillips (
guitar, vocals),
Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle),
Greg Leisz (various),
Pete Thomas (drums), and
Davey Faragher (bass). The group plans to have an album out in early 2009.
[8]
She is featured on Needtobreathe's new CD "The Outsiders" on the track "Stones Under Rushing Water."
Personal life
On August 16, 2008, Watkins was married to her boyfriend Todd Cooper in her parents' backyard in
Vista,
California, according to both Watkins and
Glen Phillips'
blog.
[9] [10]
Discography
Solo career
Albums
- 1993: Little Cowpoke
- 1997: Here to There
- 2000: Nickel Creek
- 2002: This Side
- 2005: Why Should the Fire Die?
Compilations
- 2006: Reasons Why: The Very Best
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Singles
- 2001: "When You Come Back Down"
- 2001: "The Lighthouse's Tale"
- 2002: "Reasons Why"
- 2003: "This Side"
- 2003: "Speak"
- 2003: "Smoothie Song"
- 2005: "When In Rome"
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References
- "Nonesuch Signs Sara Watkins". Nonesuch Records. November 25, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
- Tranter, Nikki. "Understanding and Ability". ''PopMatters''. November 18, 2005. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- Dickens, Tad. "End of the road for Nickel Creek?". ''The Roanoke Times''. November 2, 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
- "Nickel Creek members' tours stop in NC". ''Triangle Music''. January 24, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
- "Brad Davis, Tim May & John Moore". Walnut Valley Festival. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
- "A Most Cingular Sensation". ''Wright For You''. June 2002. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
- "Arctic Tale [Original Soundtrack: Credits"]. ''MSN''. Retrieved April 22, 2008.
- Graff, Gary. "Heartbreakers, Imposters, Nickel Creekers Make The Scrolls" ''Billboard''. January 18, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2008.
- "Summer Is Almost Over...". glenphillips.com. August 24, 2008. Retrieved August 30, 2008.
- "Sept - Northampton, MA". sarawatkins.com. September 2008. Retrieved September 16, 2008.