Occasionally our events at Unity Books Wellington transcend the usual book launch or author discussion format and we find ourselves hosting musical performances. The release of A Movement, the series of books created by A Low Hum’s Ian Jorgensen, was celebrated with various performances across the country – and Unity hosted one of them. As well as Ian being on hand to sign copies of the book for music lovers and friends, we were delighted to have Sarah Mary Chadwick in store, performing Batrider material.
Sarah immediately captured the audience’s attention with distorted guitar and beautiful lyrics – delivered with a strong voice and a distinct Kiwi accent (something too many local singers hide behind Americanised vowels!). With each song, the crowd was drawn in more and more – it was very clear why Ian had introduced Sarah as ‘one of [his] favourite songwriters’.
After the playing had stopped and everyone mingled to look at the books and sip on their Six Barrel Soda, the beautiful coincidence of the flowers and the guitar was noted – Sarah’s pale pink guitar was an almost perfect match for the flowers at the counter to celebrate the occasion. Visual kismet, Unity style.
Batrider songs were performed as homage to the band’s place in A Low Hum’s history (and within the pages of one of the A Movement volumes), but Sarah is also currently performing solo, and to get a feel for the sounds that captured us staff members along with the audience, we highly recommend investigating her music.
A Movement consists of ten beautiful photographic books, available individually or in a boxed set. All titles are available at Unity Books Wellington.
Photography by Matt Bialostocki, review by Briar Lawry
Sarah & the crowd at the lunchtime event
Sarah Mary Chadwick performing at the lunchtime event
Sarah’s guitar
Ian Jorgensen and the first signed boxed set
A very chilled out crowd at the lunchtime event
