Sari Schorr
Press Release Fall 2021
“One of the most affecting voices of the 21st century. Schorr’s position at the forefront of the new blues rock revolution is undisputed.”
— Rush On Rock
Covid Blues Hits Bands on Tour.
How an international band is trying to circumnavigate the globe through a storm of Covid regulations.
New York blues-rock singer/songwriter Sari Schorr (www.sarischorr.com) — described by RawRamp Magazine as “one of the best contemporary blues-rock singers in the world” — announces her 2021 fall tour, which features shows across Europe, including the UK, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, and The Netherlands.
“Growing an audience is hard. I’ve done it on a relentless track of touring, but COVID derailed everything overnight,” says Sari Schorr.
Sadly, the past couple of years have seen a new kind of blues for musicians: COVID blues. Touring musicians and their crews have been hit hard during the pandemic itself and even now as mitigation measures are being lifted. There are still hurdles, obstacles, and pitfalls aplenty. Sari Schorr has faced such stumbling blocks first-hand and can give honest insights into the challenges facing an international touring band.
Sari laments, “My tour diary has been revised so many times there’s a pileup of whiteout across the pages that ironically look like little speed bumps.”
“Quarantine mandates are moving targets that continue to wreak havoc with our tour.” Sari points out, “We were scheduled to kick off the tour in The Netherlands, but now there’s a mandatory quarantine for travelers from very high-risk areas, including the US & UK. The financial toll these quarantines create simply can’t be overcome.”
An international tour can take six months of planning, but operating under the pandemic affords bands little more than a few weeks of hasty preparation. Sari sighs, “As restrictions ease throughout Europe, last-minute bookings are coming in, but we’re struggling to find affordable flights and accommodations at short notice. Shows, in Switzerland, for example, can’t be confirmed until the last minute, which doesn’t give us enough time for promotion. It’s too much financial risk to bring a band in from the UK without selling enough advance tickets. And, no one is entirely sure if audiences are ready to come back to live music in pre-covid numbers.”
Sari points out, “The complications don’t stop there. Rules on mask-wearing, proof of double-vaccination, and/or COVID-negative tests vary from venue to venue across the entire tour. There is so much confusion and uncertainty, you can’t escape the anxiety.”
“I realize there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” says Sari, “but my priority is to keep my band and fans safe. I support a venue’s option to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. The best we can do is work with venues to make sure they are doing everything they can to keep everyone safe.”
Sari Schorr on tour in the UK 2020. Photo courtesy of Frank Nielsen.
In August, Sari has found it easier to ride her bike 500+ miles across the state of New York to raise funds for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center than tour internationally.
Sari confides, “I was challenged by heat, hills, and headwinds, but this pales in comparison to the travails of those dealing with cancer, so you push on. We raised $1.6 million to support cutting-edge research that will change the lives of cancer patients around the world, bringing us one step closer to eradicating cancer. I’ll continue my fundraising efforts on tour. My goal is to ride 1,000 miles for Roswell.”
As for getting back on the road as a musician, despite the challenges, obstacles, and roadblocks, the ever-resilient and committed Sari is looking forward to hopefully returning to touring, bringing her electrifying powerhouse modern-day soul & blues back to her fans, live and in person.
Sari says, “The last 18 months have made all of us face circumstances beyond our control. I’ve felt trapped by a pandemic that’s a persistent stressor. I’m acknowledging the psychological impact while trying to incorporate a sense of resilience by changing my perspective on things. I’m reminding myself that freedom is having the opportunity to dream. COIVD can’t kill my dreams.”
For further details of the tour and updates, please visit: Sari Schorr On Tour
Short Bio.
Sari Schorr first burst onto the Blues-Rock scene with her critically acclaimed debut album, A Force of Nature, produced by iconic British Blues pioneer Mike Vernon (David Bowie, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac).
Sari's success comes after years trudging the rugged road of life of the hard-working Blues woman. From her humble beginnings, working the music scene in the legendary fierce South Bronx of New York and on Manhattan's Lower East Side, to a performance at Carnegie Hall, the operatically trained tornado stood her ground as a phenomenal Blues-Rock singer who would not be denied. Sari's home is her suitcase and her path has always taken her on the road less traveled. Her life is a story of never giving up, being true to yourself and, pursuing your dream against all odds.
Sari mixes a passion for music with a duty of social responsibility. She has devoted her talent and energy to music projects of a grand scale for humanitarian causes. Most notable is her work on a “Toast to Freedom” for Amnesty International, where she collaborated with many musical legends including Warren Haynes, Keb Mo', Taj Mahal, Eric Burdon and Carly Simon. Sari’s humanitarian efforts include work in Haiti and India. She founded “Matters” – a non-profit that draws attention to humanitarian causes through the arts.
Sari is a long distance cyclist, marathon runner and animal rights activist. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and rescued pit bull triplets.
Featured Music
Manhaton Records recording artist, Sari Schorr is a masterful songwriter who weaves vibrant lyrics around well-crafted songs. She writes songs that chronicle the human experience as well as touching on social and political issues that reveal her ability to invoke passion, grit, and empathy.
What People Are Saying
“Schorr can sing ‘em. All husk and muscle, the operatically trained New Yorker makes you believe every stormy line of this game-changing album.”
— Classic Rock Magazine
“A future of potential and possibilities has opened up in front of Sari Schorr with this new album and her live shows are becoming unmissable events.”
— Powerplay Magazine
“Think Janis Joplin with a dash of Tina Turner...and you are on the way to understanding why Sari is creating such a stir in the blues/rock world.”
— Arlington Arts & Entertainment
“It is clear from the lyrical content of Schorr’s last record that while she has plenty to say, it is driven by experience and a passionate honesty for her role of carrying a soul-felt message.”
— RnR Magazine
“The evening had everything, head-spinnig blues rock vocals, jazzy and soulful vocals…underpinned by a tight rhythm section. Soaked with influences from the great pioneers of the blues…Beth Hart & Robert Plant style vocals with the energy and stage command of Tina Turner.”
— MNPR Magazine
“When Sari Schorr named her debut album, she practically wrote her own press: recorded or live, Sari truly is A Force Of Nature, an unstoppable tsunami that has stormed across the blues/rock world, leaving a trail of shell-shocked cities in her wake.”
— Blues In Britain
“First things first, Sari Schorr is incredible. Let’s get it straight.”
— Maximum Volume Music
“Her gently frayed mezzo, at times reminiscent of Janis Joplin, packs quite a punch. And, like Joplin, she’s not afraid to push her voice to lung-bursting limits…With charismatic vocals set against hard-driving blues-rock, Sari Schorr’s A Force of Nature is exactly that…the blues world at large—should take note.”
— Living Blues Magazine
“Bottle the power of Grace Slick with the whisky doused warmth of Janis Joplin and the vintage vocal result is Sari Schorr who pours out her heart and soul on this classy release.”
— Express Mail
Video.
“The New Revolution" honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream to advance civil rights through nonviolence. I'm grateful that Dr. King's work continues today through the Black Lives Matter movement. It's time to acknowledge the struggle endured by Black Americans throughout our nation’s history and honor the legacies of the Civil Rights trailblazers who fought for a better America.
Music by Sari Schorr & Bob Fridzema
Lyrics by Sari Schorr
From the critically acclaimed album, Never Say Never