SELECTED FOR CREATIVE SCOTLAND’S “MADE IN SCOTLAND SHOWCASE’ OF THE BEST IN SCOTTISH PERFORMANCE IN THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE.
Music, myth and moving image converge in an intoxicating cinematic performance, reframing Scotland’s darker ballads through live vocals and film.
Rooted in the balladry of North-East Scotland yet resonant with universal themes of movement and belonging, Sand, Silt, Flint charts an intoxicating journey through place and memory.
Championed by Iggy Pop (“Wow, that’s advanced and beautiful”) and described by Songlines as “a sublimely powerful and lingering experience,” the piece unfolds as an invocation of land and lineage. Experimental electronica fuses with archive material and traditional instrumentation as live vocals mesh with evocative visuals, drawing audiences into a mesmeric landscape of myth, memory and song.
“Soe Paing delivers that rarest of treats – a sublimely powerful and lingering experience.”
( * * * * SONGLINES MAGAZINE )
Sand, Silt, Flint brings to life singer and producer Fiona Soe Paing’s critically acclaimed alt-folk album of the same name, which received reviews from The Guardian, The Scotsman, and Songlines, and was described by Iggy Pop on BBC 6 Music as “advanced and beautiful…”
Set against breath-taking films by artist Isla Goldie, the show draws audiences into the Scottish landscapes and stories that inspired each song. Location footage is layered with archive maps, charting a dreamlike journey through time and place. Weaving together ballads, folklore, and memory in an innovative re- framing of ancient tales, Sand, Silt, Flint offers a mesmerising twist on traditional Scottish folk.
The Music
Fiona’s sound fuses otherworldly vocals, electronic textures, and a deep connection to North-East Scotland’s darker ballads and myths. The recorded score — rich with archival audio, field recordings, and contributions from some of the region’s f inest traditional and contemporary musicians — creates an evocative backdrop to Fiona’s live vocal performance. Originally supported by Creative Scotland, Sand, Silt, Flint recently toured the North-East to several sold-out venues and rave audience reactions.
“ * * * * Startling Scottish balladry with a global scope.”
(JUDE ROGERS, THE GUARDIAN)
“Well, wow – that’s advanced, and beautiful! “
(IGGY POP, BBC6 MUSIC)
