Auka

Inspired by the melodies and rhythms of the natural world, Auka perform genre-defying original music on Irish flute & whistles, acoustic guitar and double bass. Auka comes from an Old Norse word meaning to grow or augment - a term that perfectly sums up the band’s organic and distinctive approach to music-making, where original folk melodies gradually swell from moments of delicate calm to those of frenetic energy. Auka’s music evokes the nature and landscapes that surround their home of Sheffield, taking audiences on an intimate journey over moorland, through woodland and along rivers. The trio consists of Kirsty Lomax on Irish flute & whistles, Matt Gilchrist on acoustic guitar and Joss Mann-Hazell (of Mishra) on double bass. Auka’s thoughtful and playful music will transport you to beautiful places and leave you wanting to seek out the natural world yourself. Their blend of impressive instrumental sound and purposeful writing is not to be missed. Having released two albums and performed at festivals including Towersey and Cambridge Folk Festival, Auka are a growing presence on the UK folk scene. Audiences are captivated by the spellbinding interplay between the three musicians, whose intricate melodies ebb and flow in a “striking homage to the natural world” (Songlines Magazine). The band have a deep love of the outdoors and use their music to share their passion for the Right to Roam and the importance of access to wild spaces for all.