Iona Lane, the Highlands-based singer-songwriter has announced her new album “Swilkie” is due to be released on May 2nd. The album weaves ecology, conservation, islands, and folklore into suitably poetic songs and contemplative melodies. Written during three residencies on the Isle of Eigg, Isle of Mull, and Sanday in Orkney, a sense of place and landscape is at the core of the work. From basking sharks to lighthouses, lichen to vanishing islands, curlews to tree planting, all things appear here; the album was recorded in a boathouse on the West Coast of Scotland and the eager listener may even hear the lapping sound of the tide murmuring throughout. The single ‘Torus’ is out today.
Of the single Lane states: “This song is inspired by the history humans have had with basking sharks across the years. In a lot of folklore you read of sea serpents who were feared by sailors. It’s thought that these sea serpents were actually basking sharks, floating at the surface feeding away – a massively understood animal at the time. So the song starts with a sense of fear. Then we move to the 1900s when basking sharks were culled for the oil in their liver. Fisheries popped up all across the west coast and the sharks were wiped to near extinction. Now, they have made a resurgence and they’re a treasured part of our ecosystem.”
Lane is touring the album extensively (and we mean – extensively!) with 15 shows across The Netherlands/Germany/Denmark and 30+ gigs across Scotland and England (see full list below). Tickets are available here.
For the recording of the album, Iona was joined by a wealth of musicians including Ben Nicholls on double bass; Louis Campbell on guitars/banjo; Malin Lewis on fiddle/pipes; Signy Jakobsdottir on drums/percussion; Jen Austin on piano; Alex Lyon on bass clarinet/clarinet; and Jenny Sturgeon, Josie Duncan and Michael McGovern on backing vocals. The album also features a second disc of location recordings, exclusive to physical and Bandcamp. This disc was recorded by Iona using a single location recording microphone and provides an insight into the creative process and the places where the music takes inspiration. These tracks also feature fellow musicians and friends (Hannah Fisher, Jen Austin, Terra Burgoyne, Lachie Robinson, and Bess Shooter) along the way! Iona plays a Taran Guitar, which she has been playing since 2020 when she was awarded the Taran Guitars Young Players Bursary, and the album was made possible by the support of Creative Scotland. Good on ’em!
Iona Lane 2025 Dates:
14/02/25 – Fort William Mountain Festival
15/02/25 – Kirkgate Arts, Cumbria
16/02/25 – Gathering South, Glasgow
11/04/25 – Wetherby Folk Club
12/04/25 – Cley and Salthouse Marshes, Norfolk
13/04/25 – Walthamstow Folk Club
29/05/25 – Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
31/05/25 – The Lost ARC, Rhayader
01/06/25 – Tree House Bookshop, Kenilworth
04/06/25 – Ashburton Arts Centre, South Devon
05/06/25 – The Acorn, Penzance
08/06/25 – Cafe #9, Sheffield
10/06/25 – Alnwick Playhouse
11/06/25 – Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
12/06/25 – Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon
13/06/25 – Ilkley Manor House, Yorkshire
16/06/25 – Tonbridge Folk Club
17/06/25 – Colchester Folk Club
18/06/25 – Green Note, London
19/06/25 – Rosslyn Court, Margate
20/06/25 – Canopy Theatre, Beccles
21/06/25 – Deepdale Camping, Norfolk
24/06/25 – Hoy at Anchor Folk Club
25/06/25 – Redbourne Folk Club
26/06/25 – The Rankin Club, Leominster
27/06/25 – St Anne’s Church, Bewdley
28/06/25 – Violets Tea Room, Bridgnorth
30/06/25 – Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St. Annes
03/07/25 – Tolbooth, Stirling
05/07/25 – Knockvologan, Isle of Mull
06/07/25 – Resipole Studio, Acharacle
10/07/25 – TBA, Inverness
11/07/25 – The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
18/07/25 – Knoydart Community Hall, Knoydart
+ More to be announced
Here’s some footage of the single ‘Torus’ recorded last year.
