'Backbone of Our Land' by Folkworks
Backbone of our Land. What does it mean to be Northern? Why do we live here and why do we stay here? A host of leading Northern poets and folk musicians, explored northern identity in a new work performed by The Sage Gateshead, originally during the Great Exhibition of the North on 28th July 2018 and then reprised during the Art 50 festival on the 24th February 2018.
'How did we get here, eh? We’re surprised to find ourselves on the brink of a seismic shift in our national identity but how did we get to this? When did we stop talking to each other? Let’s start talking now. We might not always see eye to eye, but we all care about this land and where we’re heading. Backbone of our Land explores what it means to be part of the landscape, finding out who we are through conversation and connections.'' Degna Stone
Led by Peter Brewis (musical director) and Degna Stone (creative producer) this premiere Folkworks commission of new music and spoken word also features new work by the following artists:
Peter Brewis is a composer, musician and record producer best known for his work in Field Music. Field Music acts as both band and production company for Peter and his brother David. At their Sunderland studio, Brewis has produced seven Field Music albums as well as albums for other artists, and has worked on numerous other projects including soundtracks, song cycles and sound installations. He currently works with folk musician Sarah Hayes in the band 'You Tell Me'.
Andrew McMillan is a poet, his debut collection physical was the first ever poetry collection to win The Guardian First Book Award, as well as winning and being nominated for many other awards including The Costa Poetry Award. Andrews second collection playtime was published in 2018, and is Poetry Society Recommendation for Autumn 2018. He is a senior lecturer at Manchester Writing School at Manchester Met.
Kim Moore is a poet. Her first collection The Art of Falling won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. She won a New Writing North Award in 2014, an Eric Gregory Award in 2011 and the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize in 2012. Her first pamphlet If We Could Speak Like Wolves was a winner in The Poetry Business Pamphlet Competition. If We Could Speak Like Wolves was chosen as an Independent Book of the Year in 2012 and was shortlisted for the Michael Marks Pamphlet Award and the Lakeland Book of the Year Award.
Degna Stone has been based in north east England for the last twenty years. She is co-founder and former Managing Editor of Butcher’s Dog poetry magazine and a Contributing Editor at The Rialto. She received a Northern Writers Award in 2015, is a fellow of The Complete Works III and her latest pamphlet Handling Stolen Goods is available from Peepal Tree Press.
Bella Hardy is a singer, fiddle-player, composer, and BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year. She began performing at Cambridge and Sidmouth festivals from the age of 13 and eventually took a BA in English Literature and a Masters degree in Music. Her debut album Night Visiting in 2007established her reputation as a songwriter when her first original composition Three Black Feathers earned a BBC Folk Award nomination. She completed a two month residency in the Chinese city of Kunming arranged by the British Council and the PRS For Music Foundation and resulted in the 2017 recording and release of Eternal Spring. She has released nine solo records, and will be releasing and touring Postcards & Pocketbooks: The Best of Bella Hardy in Autumn 2019.
Sarah Hayes is a singer, flautist and keyboard player. She works with Admiral Fallow, Field Music, Rachel Newton Band, Alistair Anderson & Northlands and more. Sarah released her debut album Woven in 2015. Recently she has been working in collaboration with Field Music's Peter Brewis under the name You Tell Me. Their self-titled record was released in January 2019 to widespread acclaim.
Dan Rogers is a bass guitarist, double bassist, synth and keyboard player. He has played with Gordi, Lulu James, The Unthanks, Sting and Kathryn Tickell.
Andy Martin (videoographer).
