Skipton musician’s national tour and new single

Local singer, cellist and environmental activist Sarah Smout performed at Skipton Town Hall on the 9th November. This show was part of her debut solo tour (also playing at Bury, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Shoreham and Ambleside) after a decade-long stint as a session cellist in the folk and roots scene. Armed with just her cello and loop pedal, Sarah creates a transportive and mesmerising solo show that explores our connections to place. Titled ‘Eyjar’ (Old Norse for ‘islands’), it is inspired by her month-long odyssey to Iceland by boat, via Orkney, Shetland and the Faroes, and interweaves poetry, looped soundscapes and deeply felt lyrics in perfect harmony, creating a truly unique sound.

As an environmental activist, the climate crisis lies at the heart of her work, and she presents it in a way that celebrates nature, whilst also posing urgent questions. She brings to you her experiences from remote islands, including local dialect words for nature, stories about species of birds from islanders she met, and even traditional tunes.

Said Sarah:

“I made this journey to Iceland to listen and collect – to travel slowly. So often tours are about covering as much ground as possible, without really experiencing any of the places. I think that when we slow down, we can uncover stories that are important and urgent, and even more profoundly, find our own place in nature. This connection to nature is something that helps me navigate an uncertain world, and by travelling in these remote islands, I got to experience something that was very special, and it made me even more determined to do what I can to protect nature and the future of all life upon this earth. I think music helps to both unify and challenge people, but also to inspire change.”

Sarah’s new single ‘At Sea’ is also out now and available to listen on all platforms here. She has been working closely with Virpi Kettu to create a beautiful music video to accompany her new single which was released on  1^st November so check out her Instagram and Facebook pages now.