Jul 19, 2009

Finally! Sarah Borges hits Saratoga on July 26 for track after-party benefit



After a couple of false starts, indie-rock buzzmakers Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles will finally make their Capital Region debut on July 26th (Open House Sunday) as part of the ThoroFan Racing Season Kickoff benefit at the popular Horseshoe Inn, trackside in Saratoga.

A December ‘07 snowstorm kept the Boston-based Borges from doing an unplugged showcase at Caffe Lena; and a chance to open for her longtime hero John Doe (of X fame) had her asking-out of a recent May gig in The Parting Glass.

But these type of things do happen in the music business, and the search for a makeup date in the Spa City lands her in the middle of a horse-racing themed benefit party immediately after the Saratoga Race Course’s annual Open House Day. A good thing, too: the band’s recent and rapid ascent has them suddenly ‘too big’ for venues the size of The P-Glass.

Inspired by their recent nomination as Best New Artist by the Americana Music Association, the quartet is touring nationaly in support of The Stars Are Out, a straight ahead rock album that has Borges being compared to both Chrissy Hynde and Joan Jett. While such are certainly grand tributes, the comparisons are a bit of a surprise to the band’s longtime (and dedicated) followers, who climbed on the Borges bandwagon due to the band’s trademark roots-rock / country-punk beginnings.

“No big deal,” says the energetic and personable Borges. “We just felt like doing a rock album. It’s like anyone’s iPod or CD collection — it’s a mix of styles. So are we.”

A highlight of the Sunday afternnon set is sure to be Do It For Free, a radio-friendly offering getting heavy airplay on stations coast-to-coast, including the local EXIT 97.7 WEXT (who has signed on as a co-presenter). This show wull surely be a fun one, as both the old and the new will be blasting away, courtesy of what some say is the “most danceable band in rock and roll today.”

The rain or shine show — set under The Big Tent at the Horseshoe Inn — is embedded within the Saratoga Racing Season Kickoff event, benefiting the Saratoga-based ThoroFan: the advocacy group for horse racing’s forgotten constituency; the common fan.

Doors open and the party starts at 3PM — right when the race track’s annual (and free) Open House starts winding down. Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles are due on-stage at 4PM. Admission is just $10; all ages (kids free).

Complete event details and Advance Tickets (with NO service fees) are available here.