Photo courtesy of Hannah Read
Join Hannah Read, fiddler and multi-instrumentalist from Edinburgh, Scotland and Charles Van Kirk - Round Pond local and percussionist, for a performance of their album The Fungi Sessions Vol. 1. This special album was commissioned in 2023 by Dr. Edward Wallace at Edinburgh University to create an album of music inspired by different fungi. This commission was not without context; Hannah grew up around the world of mycology because her late father, Nick Read, was a world-renowned fungal cell biologist. The resulting album: The Fungi Sessions Vol. 1 was made in tribute to Nick and has been called a “memorable partnership between science and music” (The Scotsman).
Hannah will perform the album live for the first time in the US in Maine at Crabtree Sessions on North Haven, May 11 and at Wanderwood on May 12. She will be joined by local musicians Isa Burke on fiddle and guitar and Charles Van Kirk, who will play percussion with traditional instruments as well as with foraged items from forests near the performance venues. There will be moving visuals projected during the performance of the fungi that inspired the music.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. in the Wanderwood event barn. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m.
Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. All sales are final.
About the Musicians:
Hannah Read is Scotland born, California based multi-instrumentalist widely recognized on the international stage. She’s best known for her fiddle playing, songwriting, composing and was recently described as one of “the finest singers of our day” (MOJO Magazine). Her albums have received acclaim from The Guardian, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and many others. Hannah has worked with folk luminaries on both sides of the Atlantic: Tony Trischka, Melanie Safka, Sarah Jarosz, Cassandra Jenkins, The Fretless, Darlingside, Jefferson Hamer and Andy Monaghan of indie rock band Frightened Rabbit. She is at home improvising on fiddle, playing Appalachian old-time music and writing original songs inspired by her life on both sides of the Atlantic, woven in with tales of interesting encounters, love, loss and the natural world.
Charles Van Kirk is a musician based in Maine. His work asks the question: what role does sound play in combating climate change? In an ongoing attempt to answer this question, he creates music from environmental sources and found-sounds. Charles has made music from glaciers, geothermal energy sources, household objects , the sounds of bicycling across the USA and now mushrooms. His work has been nominated for an Emmy and has won awards from Sound on Sound Magazine, London International, Sundance, and Clio, among others.
Isa Burke is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer based in Portland, Maine. She is a versatile and in-demand collaborator, most recently touring with The Mountain Goats and Grammy-winning Aoife O’Donovan. Whether singing, playing electric guitar in a rock band, playing traditional fiddle tunes, or some combination of the above, she brings a voracious musical appetite and a diverse sonic palette to a vast array of projects.
About Wanderwood:
Wanderwood is a sustainable stays and events venue in Nobleboro, Maine. They grow MOFGA Certified organic produce on their farm, host farm dinners, workshops, weddings and special events in their event barn, and invite overnight guests to stay in their renovated 1920s farmhouse.