IRFT Celtic Radio is No More

If you were looking for Sara on IRFT Celtic Radio, the station has unfortunately stopped broadcasting as of today.

"This is a real shame," said Sara, "as the station really did play some unique and wonderful music with a broad-ranging appeal. I was proud to be a part of it, if only for a short time."

Sara will be looking for other stations on which to play her music, so stay tuned to this web site for further details!

Sara Now on IRFT Celtic Radio!

In another bid to increase her fan-base via the internet, Sara has added her music to IRFT Celtic Radio, an internet radio station based in California. This station allows you to request music to be played, and offers programming in several celtic languages.

"I believe that this station is one of the most unique I've ever heard," said Sara. "It contains very traditional music as well as interesting fusion arrangements of folk songs in punk, metal and other styles. I'm happy to be a part of the lineup."

Feel free to check Sara out at this eclectic and interesting station!

Sara's First Radio Interview a Success!

Thanks to the good folks at Audio Mirror FM, an internet radio station based in the UK, Sara had her first radio interview this evening on a celtic music show called Hopes Hidden Jems. She spoke about her musical journey, her influences, and told some humourous anecdotes.

"This was a great success," said Sara. "I was very excited to do it, and I believe that it has generated some new interest in the music, which is always the goal with such things."

Hope's Hidden Jems regularly plays Sara's music as part of its lineup, and you can check out the show on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 PM Eastern till 10:00 PM. There is also an eclectic mix of music on the station as a whole, so be sure to check it out!

Sara's Music Now on Twitter and Facebook!

You may notice some new links on this web site which haven't been there before. This is because SaraHillis.ca has now joined the Social Networking world! You can find Sara's new Twitter page at this linnk, and you can find her Facebook Fan-page at this linnk.

"The best thing about social networking," Sara said, is the ability for people to use their own immediate networks of friends and family to promote such a wide variety of interests."

Be sure to check these new sites out, especially Sara's Music Player on Facebook. This is yet another place to purchase Sara's music directly. Enjoy, and tell your friends!

Folk Alley: A New Site for Sara's Music!

Sara has added another site to the growing list of places to preview her music. Folk Alley is a web site dedicated to the support and preservation of the folk music of the United States and around the world. Sara has submitted her music to the Open Mic
section of the site in hopes of increasing her fan-base.

"This is yet another step in the promotion process," Sara Said, "and I'm excited for what it could potentially bring, not least the opportunity to dialogue with other musicians."

Check out the main Folk Alley site at this link, and check out Sara's page by clicking here. Also, don't forget to check out the other fabulous artists on this site!

Performance for the Fisherville and District Lions' Club a Success!

Tonight, Sara was the headline entertainment at the Fisherville and District Lions' Club's annual Ladies' Night dinner, held at the Erie Beach Hotel in the picturesque town of Port Dover, Ontario. She played a selection of traditional songs as well as tracks from The Laurel Tree, and the performance was very well-received.

"This was a wonderful evening," Sara said. "It was a chance for me to stretch my musical muscles a bit, enabling me to experiment in a concert format. I thoroughly enjoyed myself."

Stay tuned for more news as Sara's musical adventures continue!

Sara's Music now On-demand at CBC Radio 3!

If you're in the market for new and interesting music, then CBC Radio 3 is the site for you! Best of all for Sara Hillis fans, Sara has her own page there at this link. Check it out, become a member of Radio 3, and become a fan of Sara and any other artists you discover!

"This is a unique opportunity," said Sara. "It allows musicians a place to market themselves to a diverse and wide audience, and I for one am very excited to see what this could bring."

Again, Sara's link is at this link, and the main Radio 3 site is located here! Check it out!

Sara Hillis Needs your Votes!

Starting now, voting is open for the CNIB's national music contest called The I Factor. Sara Hillis has entered for a chance to open for Order of Canada member Terry Kelly at one of his concerts. Check out Sara's submission in the video gallery at this link, and cast your vote to support Sara as well as supporting the work of the CNIB, which provides services to Canadians who are blind and visually impaired, and conducts research on blindness prevention!

"It would be a great chance to support a worthy cause, and to have the opportunity of playing outside my comfort-zone," said Sara. "I could not pass this opportunity by."

So check out the contest at the above link, cast your vote and support the CNIB!

Mp3s Now Sold Directly!

At long last, mp3 versions of Sara's songs are now available via Payloadz.com, a PayPal merchandising site. Now, a majority of the money spent on a song, or on the complete album, will benefit Sara directly.

"This is a huge step forward," Sara said. "It is something I have been trying to do for a long time, and till now, I have never found a satisfactory way of making it happen. It is my hope that this will be the beginning of a revitalization of the business, which has suffered lately from lack of attention."

Of course, the music is still available in various online music stores such as iTunes for the convenience of the customer. So, to view the new online sales page, click here and enjoy!

First Live Performance of 2009 a Success!

Tonight, at The Brantford Open Stage, Sara performed a two-song set, both singing and playing her celtic harp, which included, in honour of Robby Burns Day (January 25), a rendition of the Burns song, "Ae Fond Kiss." Sara will perform there next on Friday, February 6.

Keep up with Sara's live performances here!

Music Submitted to Online Radio Station!

Tracks from Sara's debut album, The Laurel Tree, have been submitted to ACB Radio, an internet radio service heard around the world, and will be played on its stream called The ACB Radio Cafe, which is devoted to the promotion of musicians working in a wide range of styles and living in many different nations who are blind and visually impaired.

"This represents yet another step forward in the marketing process," Sara said. "I hope this new venue will serve to get the music out to more listeners."

The ACB Radio site is a service of the American Council Of The Blind, and has existed since 1999.

Stirring Performance at the Brantford Open Stage!

Sara once again took to the stage at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel, and this time, accompanied herself on keyboards. For this set, she began with Leonard Cohen's song "Joan Of Arc," and ended with her own setting of W. B. Yeats's poem "The Host Of The Air," the haunting melody of which garnered notice from several members of the audience.

"It was a fantastic night," she said, "filled with wonderful music and laughter.

For more information about the Brantford Open Stage, check them out here!

Sara Returns to the Brantford Open Stage After a Long Time Away!

Sara performed a two-song set tonight at the Brantford Open Stage, which takes place on alternate Friday evenings at the Brant Park Inn/Best Western Hotel in Brantford, Ontario. For the first time at this venue, Sara performed with only her voice and a microphone, choosing to sing two songs from Ireland. Beginning with the Thomas Moor piece, "Silent, O Moyle," her performance took a decidedly heroic tone as she continued the theme of the lost glories of Erin with her final song, "Down By The Glenside." These songs have both been sung by the accomplished Irish singer, harper and composer Mary O'Hara, and are both fine testimonies to Ireland's troubled history.

"It was great to be back here again," Sara said, "and I loved the performances of all the musicians. I hope this is the beginning of more regular attendance on my part."

For more information about the Brantford Open Stage, check them out here!

"The Laurel Tree" Live at iTunes!

Now, for the first time anywhere, all the songs on "The Laurel Tree" can be purchased in MP3 format from the iTunes online music store. This is the first time that this music has ever been sold, and represents a step forward in Sara's long journey. The music will also be available at Rhapsody, Amazon, and other stores. As other stores go live, you will be informed. So, all you iTunes users, go check out "The Laurel Tree" today and support this independant, Canadian artist!

Coming Soon... Purchase Sara's Music Online!

A moment many have been waiting for is finally almost here! Via TuneCore (www.tunecore.com), a digital music distributer, Sara Hillis's album, "The Laurel Tree" will soon be available in many of the top online music stores. iTunes, Napster, Rapsody, Amazon MP3 and others will soon carry all nine tracks for download to your favourite portable music device. The projected go-live date for this new and exciting development is September 5, 2008. Stay tuned for further updates as details unfold!