Downton Abbey Star Elizabeth McGovern To Perform At The Hippodrome
Sadie and the Hot Heads - November 14th, 21st, 28th (tickets from £10)
The Hippodrome Casino
Cranbourn Street
Leicester Square
WC2H 7JH
Elizabeth McGovern began her career as an actress. She made her professional debut in Robert Redford's Ordinary People, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. The next year, McGovern herself was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Milos Forman's Ragtime, also starring James Cagney. Since then, she has divided her time between theatre, film and television. Her films include Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America, Curtis Hanson's Bedroom Window and the John Hugh's comedy She's Having a Baby. Recently, she received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her role as Cora, Countess of Grantham, in the multi-award-winning Downton Abbey.
Sadie and the Hotheads were born in 2007 when McGovern took guitar lessons and was encouraged to write her own songs. After a collection had been composed, her teacher Steve Nelson introduced her to his brother Simon who started recording the songs and put together a band of musicians to support the project. "Your 'Sadie' is that thing inside you which makes you unique” explains McGovern. “Everyone has it”. The songs which make up the band's repertoire could have come from various periods from the last hundred years, incorporating Victorian Parlour Ballads, fractured, minimalist riffs and tango rhythms. The band’s debut album I Can Wait was released in 2007 and although there is a strong 'Country' influence throughout, the audience are kept on their toes with a fusion of Spanish guitar and melodic piano chords that give it a truly original sound.
Their second album How Not To Lose Things was released towards the end of 2012 and was met with more critical acclaim in many of the UK's broadsheet, tabloid and music press. "With a beautiful voice that is both fragile and husky, but distinctly hers, Elizabeth McGovern lends a quirky charm to the deft musicianship of the Hot Heads. Inspired by the likes of Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, the band delves deep into their musical ability, conjuring thoughts of love and lust. An alluring vocalist, McGovern blends sultry, seductive and sweet, making this latest album their best yet." Since its release, the band have toured the UK and have or are appearing at the Isle of Wight festival (for the second year running), Cornbury Festival, Wychwood Festival and have secured 9 nights at Edinburgh's Fringe Festival and a prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival slot opening for Sting. They are due to headline a second UK tour in the autumn which will see them play three consecutive Thursdays at The Hippodrome in Leicester Square.
Click here for a video of the band performing at this year’s Montreux Jazz Festival.
