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Spell Songs and the wonders of birds

Karine Polwart, Kris Drever and Jackie Morris from Spell Songs talk 'bird'.

The best folk and acoustic music from Britain and beyond.

Mark speaks to members of the Spell Songs project about their latest creation.

Writer Robert Macfarlane and painter Jackie Morris created The Book of Birds: A Field Guide to Wonder and Loss. Taking inspiration from the book, a group of top folk musicians gathered to write and record a new album: In Thin Air. It is the third time the group has united to take inspiration from nature.

The collective includes Karine Polwart, Seckou Keita, Julie Fowlis, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter, Kris Drever and Jim Molyneux and this latest project celebrates the 'seven wonders of bird': Nest, Egg, Beak, Song, Feather, Flight, and Migration.

Karine, Kris and artist Jackie speak about bringing In Thin Air to the stage.

Produced by Pomona Audio in Salford for BBC Radio 2

27 days left to listen

57 minutes

Last on

Wednesday 21:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Devon Sproule

    Old Virginia Block

    • Tin Angel Records.

  • Jack Rutter

    The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway

  • Damien O’Kane & Ron Block

    The Battle of Beruna

    • Pure Records.

  • Radie Peat

    The Moon and Stars

    • Rough Trade.

  • Keith Christmas

    Travelling Down

    • B & C Records.

  • Spell Songs

    Tàladh nan Eun (Lullaby of the Birds) (feat. Julie Fowlis & Seckou Keita)

    • Hudson Records.

  • Spell Songs

    Bells Fall Still (feat. Karine Polwart)

    • Hudson Records.

  • Spell Songs

    Senegal (feat. Kris Drever & Seckou Keita)

    • Hudson Records.

  • Steeleye Span

    Black Jack Davy

    • Chrysalis.

  • Leon Rosselson & Adrian Mitchell

    Palaces of Gold

    • Transatlantic Records.

  • The Decemberists

    The Better Part of Bravery

    • Decca.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 21:00
    BBC Radio 2