People are being offered the chance to enjoy a thrilling cinematic experience that features the dramatic life of herring fishermen. 

Sound artist, nature beatboxer and composer Jason Singh will be performing his live soundtrack to John Grierson’s monumental silent documentary film Drifters at venues in Newquay, Newlyn and the Isles of Scilly as part a South West tour. 

Inspired by the Soviet montage movement, Drifters follows North Sea herring trawlermen through their daily routines as well as the industry’s struggles between tradition, modernity, and nature. 

Originally commissioned by BFI, Jason’s critically acclaimed and unique solo score combines live vocal sound effects, beatboxing techniques and live sampling. 

Opening each performance, landscape writer, Sarah Acton will be presenting newly commissioned piece Seiners, with local Cornish artist Julie Macara. 

A spokesperson said: “Weaving ghostly fragments of the South West seine fishing heritage alongside atmospheric visuals by Common Ground, Sarah and local guest artist Julie Macara open the evening with the premiere of specially commissioned work Seiners.

“Real conversations, records, walks and memory talks form inspiration for this series of sketches that remember fishing communities, seine boats and everyday life along the coast to link the story of these communities to the wild coastal seasons and cycles of mackerel, salmon and pilchards once fished in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall; where voices and music drift into the memory sea.” 

The atmospheric double bill of film, live music and spoken word event is coming to the Old Town Inn, Isles of Scilly on March 21, The Centre, Newlyn on March 22 and St Michael’s Church Hall on March 24. All events will get underway at 7.30pm.