We have news now of three great acts we thought readers might be interested in who are touring over the summer. Firstly Montreal singer-songwriter Ada Lea who recently announced her latest album, “when I paint my masterpiece’ will be released via Saddle Creek on 8th August 2025. She has now advised a series of UK tour dates, culminating in a gig at London’s Lexington on 21st August. Details of tickets can be found here, and dates are listed below. Lea has also released ‘Something in the Wind,’ the second single from the album. Reflecting on the creation of the track, she says: “I had a dream about this song and remember nothing. There is a constant in everyone’s life, which is the dream. When we recorded the song, Luke, who produced it, suggested we slow it down so Tasy could improvise a busy drum solo. Then, Jonas, engineer, sped the song up to its regular speed. Like a slowed-down wink to Leonard Cohen himself.” You can see the video below.
There are dates too from Nova Scotian duo Cassie and Maggie who released their latest album, “Gold and Coal”, in the spring. It’s a record that bridges the traditions of their Celtic heritage with a striking modern edge. “We see tradition as a living, breathing thing,” say the sisters. “This album is about honouring what came before us, while daring to challenge and reshape it with our own voices.” The album features poignant reinterpretations, stirring narratives and bold originals. There’s a moving tribute to their Cape Breton fiddle mentor in ‘Dougie’s Set,‘ and a heartfelt nod to Nova Scotian Country legend, Hank Snow. Cassie and Maggie will be playing a short run of dates in Scotland in July 2025, which are listed below, and tickets can be found here. You can find a video of Cassie and Maggie performing ‘Waiting for Ellie Mae’ below.
And finally, the US-born but Cornwall-based singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid continues her seemingly never-ending tour with a new series of shows in August and September 2025. McQuaid is currently working on her Garage Sessions video series, having recently released a live version of her 2015 album “Walking Into White Live In Rapid City”. Of the latter she says: “My wonderful manager and sound engineer Martin Stansbury was sorting through some old hard drives when he stumbled on the files,” Sarah explains, “and after listening back to them and hearing how good they sounded, he suggested we go ahead and put the live version out as a ‘surprise album drop’ to mark the 10th anniversary of Walking Into White.” The Garage Sessions video series involves a series of sessions at McQuaid’s garage studio. The first of these is ‘I’m Slowing Down As I Get Older (And That’s Good)’, which you can see below. It’s been mooted as the title track of the new album she is recording and has a bluesy flavour that evokes McQuaid’s roots in Chicago, where she spent most of her childhood before moving to Ireland and then on to Cornwall. The dates for the tour are listed below, with tickets available here.
Ada Lea 2025 UK Tour Dates:
Fri 16 Aug: Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club w/ @
Sat 17 Aug: Bristol, UK @ Rough Trade Bristol w/ Allegra Krieger
Sun 18 Aug: Edinburgh, UK @ Sneaky Pete’s w/ Allegra Krieger
Mon 19 Aug: Glasgow, UK @ Nice n’ Sleazy w/ Allegra Krieger
Tue 2o Aug: Chester, UK @ St. Mary’s Creative Space w/ Allegra Krieger
Wed 21 Aug: London, UK @ Lexington, Line of Best Fit w/ Allegra Krieger
Cassie and Maggie 2025 tour dates:
Fri 11 July-Sun 13 July: Tiree Music Festival, Tiree, Inner Hebrides
Wed 16 July: Erden Court, Inverness
Fri 18 July-Sat 19 July: Heb Celt, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
Sarah McQuaid 2025 Tour dates:
Thu 21 Aug: Veryan Parish Church, Veryan, Cornwall
Fri 22 Aug: The Plough@St Anne’s, Barnstaple, Devon
Wed 3 Sep: Nuneaton Folk Club, The Crew/Queens Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Fri 5 Sep: Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Powys
Sat 6 Sep: Trottiscliffe Village Hall, West Malling, Kent
Sun 7 Sep: Acoustic Events UK @ Brackenfield Village Hall, Alfreton, Derbyshire
Fri 12 Sep: Ilkley Manor House, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Sat 13 Sep: Middlesbrough Little Theatre Club (Toft House), Middlesbrough
Mon 15 Sep: Samuel Worth Chapel (via Nether Edge Festival), Sheffield
Wed 17 Sep: West Malvern Social Club, Malvern, Worcestershire
Thu 18 Sep: The Place Bedford
Fri 19 Sep: Downend Folk & Roots @ Christ Church, Downend, Bristol
Sat 20 Sep: The Watermark, Ivybridge, Devon
