Folk duo Sophie Ramsay and Sarah Smout return to Argyll
When Sarah Smout and Sophie Ramsay met less than two years ago, they bonded over their shared concern for the environment, beaver reintroduction and the urgency of climate change. Later they began to play music together, ‘each bringing a love of poetry, landscape, and an intuitive musicianship’.
Their two distinctive voices ‘blend alchemically, with vocal harmonies, emotive cello and intricate guitar playing’, their promotion explains: ‘The result is full of character, freshness and deep feeling.’ They have just finished their first joint recording project, Atlas, a live EP, to be released imminently.
After their successful spring and autumn tours of 2017, they embark on their third and most ambitious tour of the Highlands in May 2018, taking in Strachur Memorial Hall on May 13, An Cridhe on Coll on May 15, Craignish Village Hall on May 17, the Oystercatcher in Otter Ferry on May 18, and Gigha Village Hall on May 19, plus further dates in the Wester Ross garden, Inverewe, the Treehouse at Lochcarron and The Big Shed at Loch Tay.
Sarah is from Yorkshire and Sophie from Perthshire, but they both have long-standing connections to the West Highlands and Islands, that have inspired their music both in writing and repertoire. Perhaps more than that, they like touring in places a little remote.
The duo said: ‘So often music tours are about flying or tour-bussing in somewhere and leaving without knowing anything more. For us, it’s all about the journey – feeling the distances between places, meeting the people, seeing the shape of the land, walking on beaches, watching for otters, eagles or dolphins.’
Renowned cellist Sarah has toured the UK, Europe and New Zealand with acts including Michael Chapman, Rachel Ries, King Creosote, Jess Morgan, Rosie Doonan, and Gren Bartley.
As a singer and poet in her own right, it was only a matter of time before she began a solo career. 2016 saw the release of her EP Decision to Leave – songs with cello which are original, beautifully crafted and touching, spinning poetry driven lyrics inspired by landscape and sea, and exploring themes like home, land, love and climate change.
Most recently, her song Arctic Ground was used by Greenpeace for a Save the Arctic campaign video, which depicts the efforts of protesters and native tribes against oil drilling.
Sophie combines old and new folk, singing songs from her native Scotland alongside originals with freshly poetic lyrics and European folk influences.
In 2013 she released The Glassy Mountain, an album of original songs produced by Jim Sutherland featuring some of the best folk and jazz musicians in the UK. Awarded four-star reviews by the Financial Times and Rock n Reel, fRoots described the album as ‘undeniably beautiful listening’.
Her latest release is The Seas Between Us, a collection of Scots and Gaelic songs, produced by Matheu Watson. ‘Atmospheric, elegant and beguiling, hers is an exciting new voice to carry Burns onwards,’ said Songlines magazine. As a member of iconic choral group Mediaeval Baebes, Sophie’s solo voice begins the double Emmy nominated opening credits of ITV’s Victoria.
Previous tours have seen them perform at An Tobar (Mull), Taigh Chearsabhagh (Uist), Iona Library, The Big Shed, Craignish Village Hall, Uig Community Hall (Lewis), Colonsay Festival, and a house concert tour of the UK. Two of their gigs were fundraisers for the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and the Marine Conservation Society.
For us, it’s all about the journey ”