Sara Bareilles (Bar - rell - is) -- summer's hottest, as they say, new singer/songwriter -- has gained a broad fan base throughout the U.S. via her extensive touring and #1 selling album, Little Voice, on iTunes, resulting in an impressive debut on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart at #45. Praised by critics for its depth and honesty, even Rolling Stone raved "Bareilles' writing voice is uniquely her own." Luckily, we were introduced to Bareilles while covering Aqualung (for our neighbor site, Phillyist) earlier this year at World Cafe Live. We were so impressed with her singing ability, stage presence, and songwriting, we just had to get in touch with her to learn her secrets and get to know her a bit better.

If you haven't had the chance to check out her album, some of our favorites include: "Love Song", "Gravity", and "Between the Lines". Bareilles will co-headline with Jon McLaughlin (another one of my favorites) for an eighteen-city tour. But her touring schedule doesn't stop there. She continues with Paolo Nutini as well as Maroon 5. Unfortunately, this is her only stop in the Bay Area that's scheduled for now, so take this opportunity to check her out tonight. And if you already have plans for Friday night, then do stop by the good-ole Virgin Megastore, pick up her new album, and meet Bareilles in person. Be sure to bring a Sharpie and your camera: we want to see her in-store performance up on youtube later this weekend.

Sara Bareilles and Jon McLaughlin (with Raining Jane) go on tonight at 9 p.m. at Great American Music Hall; for ticket and other info, go here. SOLD OUT

Sara Bareilles meet-n-greet happens tomorrow (Saturday) at 1 p.m. at the Virgin Megastore (Stockton and Market Streets); free.


By Spencer Williams