Sarah Heneghan 'Tiny Sacred Gaps'

Originally from the Rhondda Valleys and now based in Sheffield, drummer and composer Sarah Heneghan blends North European jazz with contemporary classical, folk, minimalism and post-rock to create immersive, cinematic sound worlds.

Her trio combines lyrical flugelhorn melodies, gently patterned piano, ambient electronics and highly textural drumming, moving between quiet intimacy and rousing improvisation. This special London matinée is part of the Tiny Sacred Gaps album launch tour and offers a rare chance to experience the music live in the intimate surroundings and renowned acoustics of PizzaExpress Live Soho.

Originally from the Rhondda Valleys in Wales, Sarah Heneghan is a Sheffield-based drummer and composer drawn to the unusual and the curious. Her music blends improvisation with influences from North European jazz, contemporary classical, folk, minimalism and post-rock.

Built around lyrical flugelhorn melodies, gently patterned piano, ambient electronics and highly textural drumming, Sarah’s music evokes landscapes, long train journeys, and the changing moods of coast and countryside. At times the trio feels rousing and propulsive; elsewhere it drifts into spacious, atmospheric abstraction.

Alongside Sarah on drums and composition, the album ensemble features Ben Gaunt on keys and Charlotte Keeffe on flugelhorn and trumpet.

Through her own projects and collaborations, Sarah has performed at festivals including EFG London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and Liverpool International Jazz Festival, as well as venues such as Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Barbican Centre and Southbank Centre.

Alongside performing and composing, Sarah teaches at the University of Sheffield’s Department of Music, runs the community project Key of She for women and minoritised genders, and leads the Footprints Artist Development Programme. She has also mentored artists through Manchester Jazz Festival and her own community initiatives, while actively championing the Northern UK jazz scene and its artists.