Sinead’s back on the road

There will be a ‘Silver Lining’ to 2020 for singer-songwriter Sinead Burgess, who was born and grew up in the Moreton Bay Region – and it starts today.

Sinead, who was born at Redcliffe and grew up at Beachmere, starts a three-month tour of New South Wales with Blake O’Connor down in Sydney tonight.

They are among the first performers back on the road since the easing of COVID restrictions and hope to tour Queensland once border restrictions are lifted.

Their Silver Linings acoustic tour, which has grown now to 14 shows with one sell-out, then heads out to Wauchope, Dubbo, Aberdeen, Wyong, Bulli and finally Newcastle.

Venues will be restricted to half capacity, to meet COVID regulations and show traditions, such as the meet-and-greet with fans will be done at a distance.

Glowing praise

Sydney’s top morning radio show host Ray Hadley was full of praise for the duo in a live interview on Tuesday and gave the tour’s title track Silver Linings its world radio premiere.

But for Sinead, who made her first public performance at the Urban Country Music Festival at Caboolture, it is simply a joy to be performing again.

“It’s going to be such a contrast to the last seven months,” says the former Tullawong State High School student, who was based in Nashville.

First break

“I haven’t had a break like this since I was 14. I was playing in February and there was a tour so I thought I’d hang around. I actually had my flights back to the US booked in May,” she says.

“But everything changed (with COVID) in March-April and I have been here (in Australia) ever since. It’s almost a year.”

Sinead and Blake met at January’s Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth. Sinead was co-hosting the show and a nominee in the New Talent of the Year Award …. as was Blake.

“He kicked my butt and won the award!” laughs Sinead, “we actually didn’t know each other at that stage.”

Zoom-ing in

But a musical collaboration quickly developed and their tour’s theme song Silver Linings was written over Zoom. The song is about emerging from a dark place and realising everything has a silver lining.

“I was writing with people across the world online and pretty grateful for being able to do that (during the restrictions),” Sinead says.

“I’ve never played with another artist before and now we’ve got this friendship and are going on the Silver Linings Tour together.”

First night nerves

Blake admits there will be some nerves tonight. “It’s a funny feeling getting back into touring,” he says, “no-one has had this much time off before. It’s great doing interviews again.”

Both hope to bring the tour to Queensland. Sinead says: “We have to be flexible and of course remember people’s safety, but I’d love to. I’ve not been back (to Queensland) in three months.”

American legend

Sinead has toured, as a solo act, with some of music’s biggest names such as James Bay, The Shires and she supported the legendary Don McLean at the age of 17, straight out of school, on his Australian tour which included shows at Sydney Opera House.

She has played across Australia and toured the UK. Before COVID, Sinead had plans for her first solo tour of the UK.

For more on the Silver Linings Tour visit:

sineadburgessmusic.com

blakeoconnormusic.com

or Sinead’s Facebook page.

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