A song for Darwin

Tuesday 19th May 2009, 9:34AM BST.

What happens when you lock eight of the folk world’s finest musicians away and ask them to write music to mark Charles Darwin’s 200th anniversary?

Back in March eight artists got together at Henley Farmhouse, near Acton Scott, for The Darwin Song Project, a week-long residential course during which they would try to write music related to the great naturalist’s life and work.

The eight artists were Chris Wood, Karine Polwart, Stu Hanna, Rachael McShane, Krista Detor, Emily Smith, Mark Erelli and Jez Lowe.

The results of their efforts were heard for the first time during a concert on March 19 at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury – and this video of the song Clock of the World has now been posted on YouTube.

Those wanting to hear more can buy the CD when it is released in July, and those wanting to hear it performed live can buy tickets for this year’s Shrewsbury Folk Festival, where the singers will reconvene on August 29.