JANUARY 2012 Friday 13th Twin Towns Services Club Saturday 14th QPAC Concert Hall Sunday 15th Caloundra RSL Tickets on sale now. Album out 9th December.

ON SUNDAY THE RETURN OF LADY LOVE Sade has been to Australia before, but it’s so long ago that even she can’t remember the tour. But now she’s much happier as a performer and is looking forward to coming back, writes Tiffany Bakker

ecently, right in the middle ‘‘I don’t intentionally write know that they’ve put on their best of a show during her US romantic songs or sad songs, either. dress – it’s like going to church for tour, Sade saw a sign lofted It’s really just one heart to another.’’ them and I feel that. Sometimes I feel high above the audience And the heart, it seems, is one filled up with love when I see certain that made her cry. ‘‘It reason Sade has never been in a big people in the audience.’’ Rsaid, ‘Thank you for being in 20 years hurry to release new music. Since her When we meet, it’s the last night of of our love’,’’ she says. ‘‘It was so 1984 debut album, there have been her all-conquering US tour, and we’re sweet that I’m getting emotional now just six more (Sade has still sold backstage at a cavernous arena. As talking about it.’’ 50 million copies worldwide). But soulless as these arenas usually are, Love, of course, is a word that is that’s Sade – she does things on her the backstage area is strangely calm perhaps most often associated with terms, when she feels like it. and mellow, much like Sade herself. the iconic British singer – for better or ‘‘My ambition has always been to Tonight, though, the singer is worse. (‘‘Sometimes,’’ she says, ‘‘I make great work,’’ she says. ‘‘My feeling a little, well, hungover, as the wish people wouldn’t write reviews ambition is not to be the biggest, the tour nears its end and the nights have about people going home to make most famous, the most successful got longer. babies after the show.’’) singer.’’ Of course, Sade’s version of Still, there’s no denying Sade’s Still, Sade has managed to hold on hungover looks better than the rest of soulful, jazzy, reggae-infused songs to an audience who remain as us look on our best days. In person, (think Smooth Operator, Your Love Is devoted as they did in 1986. she is profoundly beautiful, yet she King, No Ordinary Love, Soldier of Love) In a musical era of instant still has this self-deprecating way have purred out of our radios, and gratification, and just as equally swift about her that makes you think she been an indelible part of global disposal, this is an impressive feat. really isn’t aware of her beauty at all. romantic couplings for the best part And it’s not something that she ‘‘You get more and more of 25 years. takes for granted. rock ’n’ roll as time goes on,’’ she ‘‘If people say the music gets them ‘‘You just catch someone’s face in says, with a throaty cackle. through rough times or it’s with the audience, and I have this feeling (She says she’s thought of doing them in good times, that’s lovely,’’ of what it means to them to be there. Prince-type after-show gigs, but she says. ‘‘I feel like that’s the Maybe they even struggle to be able worries that, at 52, she ‘‘might put a purpose of me being here, and it to afford to be there. A lot of hip out’’. Cue that all-encompassing validates all that we do and put in. Americans that I’ve seen here, you cackle again.)

U ON SUNDAY. November 27. 2011 30 Yes, Sade is touring again – and after ‘‘I had some really unpleasant 2010’s brilliant Soldier of Love album, experiences with it. Going out to the why not? This is worth a moment’s same places I’d been a hundred times GIG pause. Before this she hadn’t toured before, but everything changing. GUIDE anywhere since 2001, and her People who hardly knew me saying, upcoming Australian tour is her first ‘Oh, you’re so smug now.’ I just visit to the country since 1986. For the couldn’t believe it.’’ past six years, she’s been living in the She says today’s culture of instant English countryside with her partner, fame for not doing much at all is Wharf St, Tweed Heads (07) 5536 2277 Ian Watts, his teenage son, Jack, and ‘‘really, really depressing’’. SHOW BOOKINGS 1800 014 014 her 15-year-old daughter, Ila (Ila’s dad ‘‘There’s this obsession now with ELTON JOHN is a musician). recognition for the sake of it. There’s a Brisbane Entertainment Centre, OR VISIT www.twintowns.com.au ‘‘I’ve never been a comfortable blurred line between fantasy and November 30. $119-$259. performer,’’ she says. ‘‘At the reality because of the internet. Now, if ticketek.com.au or 132 849. JOHN $ beginning, I had terrible stage-fright.’’ you go to a primary school, and you 42 Sophie Muller, Sade’s longtime ask a child what do you want to do, TOPOLOGY AND THE WILLIAMSON friend and the show’s creative every child will say they want to be KRANSKY SISTERS CHILDREN $28 director, agrees. famous. Those same ones all wanted Brisbane Powerhouse, November FRI 2 DEC 8.00PM Qld Time ‘‘I always used to watch her and to be air hostesses when I was little. 30-December 3. The Kransky Sisters think that she didn’t look like she was Now, it’s ‘I want fame’.’’ join contemporary chamber JACK THOMPSON, enjoying herself very much,’’ muses Sade was born Helen Folasade Adu ensemble Topology in a twisted NORMIE ROWE & $40 Muller, who met the singer at college. in Ibadan, Nigeria. Her father was a musical encounter. $22-35. KEVIN BORICH ARE JACK But times have changed. By any Nigerian university economics brisbanepowerhouse.org or THOMPSON & THE ORIGINAL SINNERS standards, the tour has been a teacher; her mother was an English 3358 8600. phenomenal success. The show is nurse, and raised her in rural England SAT 10 DEC 8.00PM Qld Time exquisite and thoroughly after the couple divorced. STEVIE NICKS WITH DAVE THE ANGELS hypnotising. At college, she studied fashion, but STEWART $40 ‘‘I’m way more confident now,’’ says she felt like an outsider. Brisbane Riverstage, December 3. Sade declares. ‘‘And I’ve found it ‘‘I never really felt like I belonged Fleetwood Mac’s leading lady more of an emotional event than in in the fashion world,’’ she says. ‘‘I performs with one half of the the past, probably because I was wasn’t devout like the others were.’’ Eurythmics. $125-$195. SAT 17 DEC 8.00PM Qld Time struggling just to get to zero before. At college she started dabbling in ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100. the church ‘‘Having said that, I’ve never got music. $44 on stage thinking this is nothing, that ‘‘I became a singer by chance, STEREOSONIC FESTIVAL this is like a job. It’s not like a job, it’s because some mates of mine had a RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane, like a big event. And so I think I’m band, and they didn’t have a singer. December 4. Includes Armin van better at expressing myself now as a ‘‘It was a long time (before) I Buuren, Carl Cox, LMFAO, Empire of THURS 22 DEC 8.00PM Qld Time performer. It’s been a memorable thought I could do it,’’ she laughs. the Sun and more. $141.95-$262. experience. I won’t ever forget it.’’ ‘‘Even now, I don’t consider myself a moshtix.com.au. GRINSPOON $ Sade doesn’t remember much real singer. I’m getting there.’’ 40 about her 1986 tour of Australia. Sade says that when the tour ends, ROCKWIZ LIVE – ‘‘It was a difficult time in many she’ll have no problem going back to CHRISTMAS SHOW ways. I’d been on the treadmill for all life in the country. ‘‘I’m quite good at The Tivoli, December 4. Julia Zemiro, SAT 31 DEC 8.00PM Qld Time of the whole of the 1980s, and I just that, at having a balance in my life.’’ Brian Nankervis and the expanded wasn’t coping at all.’’ Right now, though, she’s focused on RocKwiz Orkestra take their X FACTOR $ Even now, she says people often ask Australia. Christmas shows on the road with all 60 her her thoughts on 1980s music, but ‘‘I’m really looking forward to it,’’ your favourite segments. $69.90. WINNER she really doesn’t remember any of it. she says. ‘‘People know how to show ticketek.com.au or 132 849. ‘‘I didn’t have a clue what was you a good time in Australia, which is FRI 13 JAN 8.00PM Qld Time going on in the ’80s. I was constantly really nice. That’s the sense I got from THE CHURCH on planes and hotels and never ever being there. Powerhouse, Brisbane, December MARCIA HINES stopping. I wanted to just get my life ‘‘Finally, I feel like I’m in my 23-24. Head to Church on Christmas $35 back after that, because I’m not that prime. And finally Australia gets to Eve for the band’s 30th anniversary ambitious. see it.’’ tour. $55. brisbanepowerhouse.org ‘‘I didn’t like being famous, or or 3358 8600. being recognised for just being a Sade, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, SAT 14 JAN 8.00PM Qld Time known person, like a celebrity. I Monday, December 12. Tickets: WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL THE KING, THE KILLER didn’t like it at all. ticketek.com.au Woodford, Sunshine Coast $35 hinterland, December 27-January 1. & THE EVERLYS Incorporating The Dreaming Festival. STARRING DEAN Z & LANCE LIPINSKY WITH THE PREMIER SHOWBAND Acts include Buffy Sainte-Marie, Gotye, The Herd and more. $68-444. FRI 20 JAN 8.00PM Qld Time woodfordfolkfestival.com or 5496 1066. www.twintowns.com.au

NO YEARS FESTIVAL Brisbane Powerhouse, December 31. Featuring The Holidays, The Dum Dum Girls, Ball Park Music, Last Dinosaurs and many more.

ALOE BLACC The Tivoli, January 3. Coming to Brisbane for a soul-stopping show. $73.30 ticketek.com.au or 132 849.

ROGER WATERS SAT 7 JAN Brisbane Entertainment Centre, February 1-4. The Pink Floyd star brings The Wall to Brisbane. $37 $99.90-399.90. ticketek.com.au or Sade is finally enjoying touring and is sure this trip to Australia will be more 132 849. enjoyable – and memorable – than the last.

31 U ON SUNDAY. November 27. 2011