
Event information
Chloe Matharu:
"A voice of milk and honey” - Anaïs Mitchell
"Superwoman enigma... incredibly talented " - BBC Scotland
Chloe Matharu is a Scottish Indian singer songwriter, harpist and harmonium player based in the Outer Hebrides. She is an independent, multi-award winning, internationally touring, musician and draws on her experience of sailing the world as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy to lend a voice to the modern day seafarer through music. Bringing back to life the folk tradition of narrating working conditions and traditions, she uses her lived experiences, storytelling, and music to reel audiences into her watery world.
Live, Chloe performs in English, Scots, and Gaelic interlinking modern and historic maritime themes through song. Solo, Matharu accompanies her singing with either her Celtic Harp or her Punjabi grandfather's Harmonium. Her performances are deeply personal and unique. She also performs as the Chloe Matharu Trio (voice/harp, guitar, flute); the Chloe Matharu Band (voice/harp, guitar, flute and fiddle) or as Chloe Matharu and the Celtic Deep (voice/harp, guitar, flute, fiddle, percussion, keyboard) the latter offering a mix of more upbeat songs alongside Chloe's original repertoire.
You may have come across Chloe in her TV and radio features such as on BBC Scotland's Island Crossings, BBC Woman's Hour, BBC Loose Ends, features in The Times and The Sun, amongst others. She is the only artist to have won Celtic Music Radio’s Album of the Year twice; she's also received the Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections amongst other awards and nominations including MG Alba Awards Scots Singer of the Year Nominee.
She's a Live Music Now musician and is involved in her local community. When not performing music Chloe spends her time riding her horses, long distance sea swimming and running her croft on Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles of Scotland.
"A beautiful dynamic movement that carries the listener along." - Folk Radio UK
Theo Dussek:
Theo Dussek ‘Pirate Troubadour’ is an acoustic folk singer-songwriter - a nomadic, romantic soul from simpler days of sailors and sweethearts, whalers and horse carts. He finds himself in the 21st century with an endeavour to keep alive the troubadour’s tradition of serenading, whilst being ever-influenced by the oceans and rivers that call to his heart.
Theo places poetry and storytelling at the heart of his craft. Fingerstyle guitar playing, tender melodies and deep lyrics; let the music hook you in - and you’ll be a fan forever. His latest album Written in the River is a personal map of healing, identity and serendipitous meetings; an offering to the queer folk canon as evidence of hope. If you’ve ever loved - Theo’s got your back.
Theo is awaiting his invitation onto Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior as the ship’s official artistic chronicler; funding has yet to be allocated. In the meantime he continues to perfect a machine that travels time - his voice-activated Compass Yamaha Guitar.
“The songs…a celebration of love and joy to which we can all relate” Folk London
“More [of his] happy song[s]!” Theo’s 4-year-old nephew
“There is a frank and earnest sincerity to Theo’s lyric style…he sings with clarity and feeling, straight from the heart.” Folk and Honey