Contemporary folk music from the Isles of Scilly
Lost Songs of Scilly is a unique collaboration that seeks to capture the stories and essence of the Isles of Scilly in music. Foot-stomping reels blend into timeless songs and ambient immersive instrumentals - this is music infused with an unshakeable sense of place. Expect evocative island soundscapes, with samples of field recordings woven through songs of the sea, celebrating the resilience of a creative, independent island community and transporting audiences to this truly beautiful place.
Piers Lewin has lived on the tiny island of St Agnes, Isles of Scilly for twenty five years. Following the disappointing realisation that his island home (unusually for a Celtic outpost) has no surviving indigenous music, he has made it his personal mission to compose and perform music that reaches the very heart of the place. Early on in this quest, he began collaborating with award-winning composer and producer John Patrick Elliott, a regular visitor to the islands.
Having worked together on numerous Scilly-based musical projects over the years, the duo conceived Lost Songs of Scilly in 2023 to create and share a new and vibrant version of the island sound, drawing on all this experience of setting Scilly to music. The result: a unique album and live experience, touring the UK in summer 2024.
Much of the music is created and recorded outside in the landscape - the ambience of wind and wave reflecting Scilly's unspoilt soundscape. Many of the dance tunes draw inspiration from the powerful traditional Celtic music of neighbouring Cornwall, while the songs distill the rich stories and complex traditions of a remarkable, resilient maritime community.
Every note of this music is saturated in a profound sense of place - the aim of each performance is to take everyone in the audience, just for a night, to this unique and magical island.