Sara Milonovich’s voyage starts in northeast upstate New York — the name of the song that gives her latest album "Northeast" its title is no accident — where she was raised on her family’s working farm and exposed to earthy music at a young age via her parents’ record collection and her grandparents’ efforts in organizing local bluegrass concerts. Having started on violin at age four, by age nine she was already leading her own band and enjoying a rising regional reputation as a top-flight fiddler.

At 16, she dropped out of school and joined legendary upstate Celtic bluegrass outfit the McKrells, recording two albums with the group and touring the U.S. and Ireland. Nowadays, when not making her own music, Milonovich is a seasoned side musician to such artists as Richard Shindell, Pete Seeger, Eliza Gilkyson and Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys, and a featured player in the recent smash Broadway musical Come From Away.

Milonovich's two most recent albums, "Waiting for the Stars" and "Northeast" were produced by guitarist Greg Anderson, who will accompany her on her UK tour. But while its predecessor has more experimental touches, the new album is more direct, more stripped down, more driving — more Milonovich, really.

“When people hear 'Northeast', I hope they feel connected to what they’re hearing,” says Milonovich, who was named 2022 Americana Artist of the Year by the Capital District Thomas Edison Music Awards (AKA the Eddies). “Like their stories are being written and sung through mine. We’ve all got stories to tell.”

So true. If only we all could tell them in the beautiful, moving, and melodic ways that Sara Milonovich does. Luckily, until that day comes, we have "Northeast" as our travelling companion.