Newbury busking days behind her, Saskia records at Abbey Road

Saskia Griffiths-Moore will be making a much anticipated return to Newbury on October 15, at ACE Space, where she will run a songwriting workshop in the afternoon and be in concert in the evening.

Saskia’s career as a professional musician has come a long since the days she could be heard busking in Newbury.

She is endorsed by Agnew Instruments and JWC Guitars and has completed her third recording at Abbey Road Studios. Her music has been featured on Sky TV, London Live, BBC Radio Scotland, Wales and more and has been awarded multiple grants from Arts Council England. She has toured through the UK and across Europe.

Saskia’s bold decision to abandon her career as craniosacral therapist on Harley Street to follow her passion for music has certainly paid off.

Like so many musicians, Saskia had all her plans thrown into disarray at the start of the COVID pandemic. Instead of touring the US, Canada, Europe and the UK she focused on recording and releasing her new album Where Are We Heading - the first of two in a transatlantic record deal with The Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation, Inc.

Saskia also went online providing songwriting mentoring and support.

Inspired by the online workshops Saskia had the idea of launching a competition for older (50+) songwriters called Talent is Timeless. An incredible panel of judges were enlisted, including Phil Beer (Show of Hands); Little Boots; Ian Matthews (Kasabian); Tony Moore (Iron Maiden) and Chris Difford (Squeeze).

Saskia explains “The idea was born from years of touring and getting to know my fans. Many of them are highly talented musicians and passionate people who started playing music ‘late’ or didn’t take steps at the ‘right’ time. Many had a family, responsibilities, and the general feeling that they had ‘missed the boat’. Well, I started this competition to prove all of those things wrong.”

The prize of a recording session at Abbey Road plus a raft of promotion and professional development support attracted more than 1,200 entries. Saskia was a recent Folk Ace guest on Kennet Radio introducing some of the competition winning entries. A link to that programme can be found at www.KennetRadio.com/folk-ace.

The ACE Space concert will open with a selection of songs from the workshop followed by Saskia, and band, including songs from the new album. Tickets are available from www.WeGotTickets.com or direct by calling 078911 76940 or emailing events@acespace.org.uk.

STEPHEN OTTNER