Sarah Hughes & Isayah Warford

Sarah Hughes

Sarah Hughes, the original Southern Savage has a powerhouse voice and an arsenal of original songs. Growing up in Eastern Arkansas, Sarah was surrounded by a family of instrumentalists, so music was ingrained in her from the start. Because of her early exposure to various instruments, Sarah is proficient on guitar, bass, keys, and vocals.

After earning her bachelor’s degree from Hendrix College, she migrated her sound to New York City. Playing East Village locales to soul kitchens of Harlem, her new-found metropolitan life inspired her debut album, Southern Savage. Sarah’s next stop was Austin, where she played legendary venues including The Continental Club, Saxon Pub, The Cactus Cafe, and the annual SXSW music festival. Sarah has shared the stage with Amos Lee, Lucinda Williams, Pat Greene, Zack Brown, and Luke Bryan.

Settling in Fayetteville, Sarah quickly gained recognition throughout the region, winning a total of 5 Ozark Music Awards and 11 NAMA Awards, earning her a spot in the Hall of Fame as a solo artist and with her band. Sarah has released 5 albums to date: Southern Savage (2005), No Seat Belt (2007), LIVE: No Chaser (2010), Memphis (2021), and most recently, Bobcat Fever (2025), in collaboration with Isayah Warford. Sarah’s songs are humorous, thoughtful, and delivered in a sexy twang that makes you say, “She’s got it!”