The Charmers - 'Not To Be Found' : debut EP by Scottish band and art project out now on Dimple Discs

The Charmers is an art project which draws on research by artist Anne Robinson into the Scottish ‘witch’ trials of the 17th century: known to be among the most brutal in the world. The project takes diverse forms including films, drawings, sound, broadside ballads, workshops and conversations. During archival investigations, Robinson found scrolls recording seven accused ‘witches’ in Ayrshire as ‘not to be found’ - apparently fugitives.

From these fragments, the work developed around the idea of a ‘sci-fi folk ballad’: a story in which the accused ‘witches’ abscond using the very conjuring they are accused of, transported away out of their cells to form a band, on tour with their familiars to historical moments of transformative rebellion – levellers’ meetings, molly houses, cabaret, disco protests.... This story of accused ‘witches’ has resounding relevance today, exploring themes such as misogyny, banishment, sexuality, class and ‘othering’.

An art project in diverse forms: films, drawings, sound, broadside ballads, workshops and conversations, The Charmers have also been performing regular live shows. The next opportunity to catch this amazing band of musicians will be at the Fruitmarket in Edinburgh on 21st October TICKETS.

The touring line-up is: Debbie Smith (ex-Curve, Snowpony, Echobelly) - electric guitars; Tansy Spinks - electric violin; Debbie Armour (aka Burd Ellen: “Wonderful” [Cerys Matthews], “One of our finest folk explorers” [The Wire]) - vocals and shruti box; Lisa Lux - drums; Anne Robinson - vocals, lead visual artist and films.

NOT TO BE FOUND

EP TRACKLISTING

12”

1 Song For The Leaving (03:30)

2 Ballad In Transfigured Time (05:23)

3 Swift Song (03:30)

4 If You Say So, So I Am (07:33)

digital

1 Song For The Leaving (03:30)

2 Swift Song (03:30)

3 Ballad In Transfigured Time (05:23)

4 If you Say So, So I Am (07:33)