The Folk by the Oak festival team, who commissioned the incredible Spell Songs project, are excited to announce a unique opportunity to enjoy Spell Songs at their best by tuning in to an exclusive online broadcast of a full live performance. This show was filmed earlier this year during their Winter Tour at Birmingham Symphony Hall, one of the UK’s most prestigious concert venues, and will be broadcast on Saturday, 9th April.
Tickets cost £16 for the full performance and will be available from 9 March via Folk by the Oak on Side Door*
Featuring the multifaceted talents and collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux, Spell Songs is a musical evolution of the captivating art and poetry found within the pages of The Lost Words & The Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris, where ‘lost’ nature words are conjured back into being.
“….. equally captivating (to their first album) with a serendipitous blend of guitar, harp, woodwind, kora and more.…but it’s the group’s collective vocals that ace it.” – ***** The Observer
Incorporating music from both their eponymous first album (2019) and the recently released Spell Songs II: Let The Light In, the concert blends a diverse array of instruments including the kora, electroharp, cello and Indian harmonium with uplifting vocals that incorporate musical and linguistic influences spanning from Orkney to Senegal.
Those lucky enough to catch Spell Songs live during their recent Winter Tour will know that Jackie Morris, The Kate Greenaway award winning illustrator, artist and co-author of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells, joins the supergroup of musicians on stage for a unique and powerful multi-artform performance where music and art interconnect and a little bit of magic is created!
In an additional introductory bonus feature, Jackie will join Robert Macfarlane in conversation with eco-author Nicola Davis to give a deeper insight into ‘The Lost Words movement’ and how Spell Songs came into being.
And if that wasn’t exciting enough ……Vinyl Released 20 May, pre-orders now open!
And for vinyl devotees the band has more good news – their hugely successful second album will soon be available as a beautifully presented gatefold double LP. As with Spell Songs’ previous CDs and vinyl releases, this promises to be a thing of rare beauty, adorned with the extraordinary illustrations of Jackie Morris, exceptional photography of Elly Lucas and insightful musings of the 7 incredible musicians that make up Spell Songs.
Pre-orders are available at https://ffm.to/spellsongsii-eu with the physical release on 20 May.
“Brilliant musicians… A unique gig” – Ricky Ross / Radio 2 Folk Shower
*For ticket links visit Side Door
For festival and pre-order details visit folkbytheoak.com
