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Banks of Sicily

Folk musician Karine Polwart recounts a unique collaboration during the lockdown of 2020, in this essay, recalling how she regained a sense of purpose in a strange time.

In the depths of lockdown during 2020 multi-award-winning musician Karine Polwart offered to play a private gig for neighbour and local legend Al Beck just weeks before he would die from cancer.

The resulting correspondence became an unexpectedly rewarding collaboration as they shared their love of music through Al's choice of songs. In this essay Karine reflects on the strange purposelessness she felt at the time, with no one to play for or with what use was she? The offer of to play in Al's back garden became as much a gift to her as him.

Written and Presented by Karine Polwart
Producer by Peter McManus
Mixed by Sean Mullervy

Available now

14 minutes

Last on

Wed 3 Jul 2024 21:45

Broadcast

  • Wed 3 Jul 2024 21:45

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