Following the success of a wonderful live-stream concert, direct from the Natural History Museum, the Spell Songs ensemble is delighted to announce the release of a new album ‘The Lost Words: Spell Songs Volume II’ in mid November 2021 and a return to live performance in 2022.

The Lost Words: Spell Songs at the Natural History Museum, London, broadcast on April 27th, proved an awe-inspiring event that was live-streamed globally and dedicated to protecting the natural world.  Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, authors of The Lost Words – the book that inspired the companion music project – and their second book, The Lost Spells, joined the musicians beneath the enormous skeleton of a blue whale (appropriately named ‘Hope’)  in the iconic main Hintze Hall. Together, they called for a more environmentally enlightened future.  To date, the concert has (so far) raised an amazing £90,000 for the Natural History Museum’s conservation charity #UrbanNatureProject.

“Nature isn’t just nice to have, it’s the linchpin of our very existence and ventures like the Urban Nature Project help the next generation develop the strong connection with nature that is needed to protect it.”  Sir David Attenborough. 

To view The Lost Words: Spell Songs at the NHM  – available until 31st May, donations welcomed – visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkpK6610LRI

Responding both to The Lost Words and its recent companion volume, The Lost Spells, the seven remarkable musicians (Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux) who make up the ensemble are once again gathering together to record a follow-up to their critically acclaimed first release with an album of new songs: The Lost Words: Spell Songs Volume II. Born out of an intensive, creative week-long musical collaboration, this latest album will be released in mid November 2021 …

“a delightful homage to nature”  The Times****

… And it won’t be long to wait till there’s the chance to see and hear these astounding Spell Songs singers, accompanied by Jackie Morris painting live on stage with them, in real life on their 2022 UK tour:

Jan 27th Thu    Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall               2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G23NY

Jan 28th Fri      Perth, Concert Hall                            Mill Street, Perth PH1 5HZ

Jan 29th Sat     Sage, Gateshead                                 St Mary’s Square, Gateshead NE8 2JR

Jan 30th Sun    Birmingham Symphony Hall              8 Centenary Square, Birmingham B1 2EA

Jan 31st Mon   Cadogan Hall, London                       5 Sloan Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

Feb  1st Tue     Cadogan Hall, London                       5 Sloan Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ

if you were in any doubt, here’s a video from the Volume I The Lost Words: Spell Songs album, which concludes with The Lost Words Blessing. It is offered both in hope and light, and in grief for the losses and dark times yet to come.

Grab a blanket, it will give you goosebumps…..

For all other information and ticket links visit https://www.thelostwords.org/live/