Sadie Roach

Daughter of blues musician, Michael Roach, Sadie grew up in a musical environment entrenched in all styles of African American music. Sadie Roach is now 24 years old and has studied at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. First performing at 12 years old in front of her whole school, her parents were shocked to see their shy little girl, confidently sing and play ‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole with ease. Since then, she has performed and played locally and internationally at music festivals and prestigious venues such as the Tolpuddle Martyr’s Festival 2020, Hoogeven Blues Festival in Holland, Boisdale in Belgravia, London, the Ascot Racecourse and Cheltenham Racecourse to name a few. Her voice is often compared to the silky, luscious tones of Nancy Wilson, and Dinah Washington, and is known to bring audience members to tears during ballads that express a maturity in her voice well beyond her years. Once described as ‘the reincarnation of Nina Simone’, she always leaves her audience stunned. Sadie’s piano playing has been influenced by Horace Silver, Ramsey Lewis, and Ray Bryant giving her a strong blues sound that makes her stand out amongst the young pianists around today. Music critic, editor, and author, Bill Kopp (Musoscribe) called her “a fluid and soulful pianist”. Sadie released her first EP, ‘Hooked On Love’ at the age of 18, recording with Roger Inniss (Bass- Chaka Khan, Top of the Pops), Rod Youngs (Drums- Courteney Pine, Denys Baptiste) and Tim Cansfield (Guitar- Bee Gees, Steve Winwood, Elton John, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Seal). Her EP was featured on BBC Radio 6 in 2016 with Paul Jones and received raving reviews. Since then, she has recorded with her father, featured on his album, ‘Tryin’ Times’ which included her original song, ‘A Vote For Me’ and her arrangement of a blues song by Leadbelly, ‘Take This Hammer,’ which was also featured on BBC Radio 6 by Cerys Matthews. Her performance on the album has received incredible feedback and is continuously praised for her stunning vocals and piano playing by music critics and musicians alike. Moving away from her jazz influenced repertoire, Sadie’s sound has been honed over the years into what is now a unique, gritty soul/RnB sound, reviving and giving a fresh, modern take to the sounds of Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes and the sound that really defined the Black power movement in the late 60s and early 70s. She is currently recording another EP which will be her introduction to the world of who she is now as a developing performing artist.