A FLAUTIST WITHOUT BORDERS • FROM PETER GABRIEL TO THE HEART OF WORLD MUSIC
RETURNING TO BARNOLDSWICK MUSIC & ARTS CENTRE — JANUARY 2027
"The fabulous flute of Eliza Marshall." — Peter Gabriel
Some musicians master an instrument. Others use it to explore entirely new worlds. Eliza Marshall belongs firmly in the latter category. A classically trained flautist, composer and musical explorer, she has built a career moving between progressive rock, contemporary folk, African rhythms, orchestral music and film soundtracks. Imagine the minimalism of Steve Reich meeting the atmospheric grandeur of Peter Gabriel, the melodies of Celtic folk and the intricate rhythms of West Africa. Marshall's music draws from all these worlds without being confined to any of them.
Her recording and performing credits read like a who's who of modern music. Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Florence & The Machine, The White Stripes, First Aid Kit, A-ha, Robbie Williams and Alison Moyet are among the artists she has worked with. As a member of Gabriel's acclaimed New Blood Orchestra, she helped reinterpret his catalogue through sweeping orchestral arrangements, while her distinctive flute playing also features on his album i/o. Her versatility extends into film music, with credits involving composers including Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman and Alexandre Desplat.
Marshall first came to wider attention as a founding member of the Anglo-Irish folk group Ranagri, whose five acclaimed albums and adventurous approach to traditional music earned them a loyal international following. Performing at venues and festivals including Cambridge Folk Festival and Birmingham Symphony Hall, the group received Fatea's Band of the Year award in 2022. Folk Radio UK identified Marshall's extensive collection of flutes and whistles as central to the band's distinctive sound. Her ambition extended further with Freedom To Roam: The Rhythms Of Migration, an award-winning project combining music, film and environmental storytelling, featuring celebrated harpist Catrin Finch.
In 2025, Marshall stepped forward as a solo artist with New Birth, released through Peter Gabriel's Real World X label. Recorded between England and Senegal, the EP blended African percussion, haunting flute melodies, electronics and traditional instruments. Her debut full-length album, Eternal Birth, followed in January 2026, exploring nature, humanity and the cycles of life through a rich tapestry of musical influences. Reviewing the album, At The Barrier described it as "Beautiful and bright, rich and rewarding, deep and fulfilling." Launched at Gabriel's Real World Studios, the recording marked a significant new chapter in Marshall's career as a composer and solo performer.
Her fellow musicians have been equally complimentary. Composer Joby Talbot described "the other-worldly sound of Eliza's bansuri" as warmly engaging yet deeply mysterious, while Matthew Bannister of Folk On Foot praised her music as "Mesmerising, uplifting, joyful." Her playing combines classical precision with a willingness to experiment, moving effortlessly between delicate acoustic passages, cinematic textures and driving world rhythms.
In January 2027, Eliza Marshall returns to Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, bringing a lifetime of musical exploration into the intimate surroundings of our Lancashire listening room. From international concert halls and the Royal Opera House to Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios, her career has taken her across continents and musical traditions. Now audiences have the opportunity to experience that artistry at close quarters, where every note, breath and subtlety can be appreciated.
Eliza Marshall is more than a flautist. She is a composer, collaborator and musical storyteller whose work connects cultures and genres. Her return to Barnoldswick promises an evening of atmospheric, inventive music from an artist who continues to challenge expectations.
From Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios to a little cellar in Lancashire.
World-class music. Up close. Just as it should be.
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