Last month, our Artists of the Month came in the collective form of Freedom to Roam, led by flautist Eliza Marshall, best known in the folk world as a member of Ranagri, and featuring Catrin Finch (BBC Folk Award Winner), Jackie Shave (Britten Sinfonia leader) and Dónal Rogers (Ranagri/Tony Christie) plus special guests including Kuljit Bhamra MBE (award-winning Bhangra pioneer) and Robert Irvine (BASCA Award).
Their album, The Rhythms Of Migration, was released on 26 November and was described by David Pratt in his Folk Radio review as an outstanding album. He adds “If academics, or others, wished to exemplify the power and ability of music to touch and affect the range of human emotions, then they need look no further than this release.
“A drink from this global watering hole will leave you enriched, enlightened and, hopefully, a more altruistic, compassionate being.”
When Johnny Whalley interviewed them, the project had just been awarded Arts Council England funding to take the project on tour next Spring. Before then they will be launching the album this month at Cecil Sharp House, details are below.
Album launch
Saturday 18 December 2021 at Cecil Sharp House, London (Tickets)
Spring Dates
Tuesday 22 February – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds
Wednesday 23 February – Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Thursday 24 February – The Stoller Hall, Manchester
Friday 25 February – Howard Assembly Room, Leeds
Wednesday 2 March – St George’s, Bristol
Ticket Links: https://www.freedomtoroam.earth/tour/
The live show includes their critically acclaimed album played in its entirety as well as a screening of the accompanying documentary by multi-award-winning director Nicholas Jones (A Greenlander, You Are Here).
Eliza Marshall has spearheaded this humanitarian and environmental project, first conceived of during a visit to the Inner Hebrides in 2018. The result is a beautifully crafted journey in music and film through universal responses to our own and the planet’s most pressing needs. Traversing themes such as climate change, conflict, displacement, restriction, the erosion of natural habitats and the need for empathy when addressing these challenges.
Championed by Virginia Mckenna, the resultant work of widescreen, world music fuses folk with classical via Africa, Scotland and India, crossing illusory borders, telling untold stories whilst simultaneously challenging us to see the world with new, and more hopeful, eyes.
Eliza said:
“Freedom To Roam approaches the interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental destruction and human displacement within the context of our needs for freedom, empathy and hopefulness. It’s the starting point to an all-encompassing project that aims to change our understanding of nature, wildness and our pivotal role in the future of life on this planet.
Taking it on tour for the first time after securing Arts Council Funding is hugely significant for us and affirms how this project is resonating with others during these challenging times.”
Virginia McKenna added:
“This is an important and thought-provoking journey with some of the world’s top musicians”
Catrin Finch said:
“When Eliza approached me I immediately jumped at the chance as I thought it was something we all needed. Suddenly there was time to think, be inspired and create. We could turn to nature, think about how to care more fully for the planet. I was inspired by the themes of openness and freedom at the heart of this project and to work with these wonderful musicians.”
An acclaimed and much in demand musician who has worked with Peter Gabriel, Sir Paul McCartney, The Divine Comedy and sarod guru Amjad Ali Khan – Eliza has a love for crossing musical boundaries. The poignancy of her vision for Freedom To Roam found new focus during the pandemic and it was eventually written and recorded at Rockfield Studios.
The tour aims to raise funds for The Born Free Foundation, The Lost Woods rewilding project for children and the Odyssey cancer charity. The launch event at Cecil Sharp House on 18th December is in aid of ‘Save Africa’s Giants’ – Born Free’s urgent campaign to prevent the extinction of Kenya’s giraffes and lions.
Jackie Shave added:
“I was driven to write these tracks because of the ever-increasing plight of displaced people, refugees, and asylum seekers, and the lack of compassion they so often experience in so-called ‘civilised‘ countries. After being forced to leave their homelands in extreme and horrendous situations, whether it be from war, famine, or climate extremes, we must ask ‘what would we wish for ourselves, our friends, and our children in their situation?’. I hope this music reinforces the fact that we are a global family and inextricably connected.”
More here: https://www.freedomtoroam.earth/
Read our Album Review / Interview