SARAH Toner, the lead singer of the band VERA, is looking forward to a very special performance at Eats and Beats this weekend.
The band, which was formed in 2023, have been busy this year. They have played gigs in Dublin, Belfast and Derry, but this performance in Donard Park is an important one for Atticall girl Sarah. “I am so excited for this festival because it is going to be the first gig that I have done that is near where I am from, the closest spot to where I grew up,” she said. “Hopefully I will see some familiar faces walking about.”
VERA are playing the Homegrown stage and will perform songs they have released as singles in the past year, and which will feature on their first album, which is going to be released in October. But Sarah explained that live performances are very important to VERA. “Us performing live is one of the most important things for us. “As much as we love that sacred time in the studio that no one else gets to see or feel, going out on stage live and letting loose is important.”
Anyone who is familiar with the band will know that Sarah, who also works as an actor, likes to put a lot of energy into her performances. “With my theatrical background I do really like to go all out when I am on stage. “From the album you get a feeling of what we are like live. It is a very energetic album.”
While the band have only been working together for a few years, Sarah said that they have worked hard on mastering their live performances. “Every time we perform it feels like we are more glued together. “Though in saying that, it feels like we have had that since the first gig. We spent a full year writing and recording together before we did a live show. “We want people to be able to come to our shows and forget whatever has been going on, just be able to come in and dance about and have fun and not have to worry about all the other things that go on in our lives. “And let off a bit of steam.”
