The River Malago runs quietly beneath the streets of Bedminster — often overlooked yet deeply rooted in the area’s history and ecology. From July to October 2025, composer Liam Taylor-West collaborated with the local community to bring the Malago to life in sound.
From cello and violin to clarinet, flute, piano, guitars, bass, percussion, voices, choir, and spoken word, the river’s sounds were reimagined through a rich and varied ensemble. The results were shared in a series of public events that invited everyone to listen, take part, and experience the Malago in a new way.
A River’s Song walks along Bedminster’s hidden river, listening while tracing the Malago’s presence through the city. These walks later inspired the A River’s Song audio walk, launched at the Art on the Hill Festival, Bedminster.
Credits
Liam Taylor-West - Project Lead and Music Arranger
Kate Fletcher - Choir Lead and Choir Arranger
Patrick Phillips - Recording and Mixing Engineer
Recorded Musicians:
Helen Adshead (Vocals), Onora Alexander (Vocals, Piano), Patrick Alexander (Fiddle), James Anderson (Double Bass), Ramona Andrews (Clarinet), Sarah Bradley (Violin), Teri Bramah (Vocals, Guitar), Edie Church (Cello), Jayne Connell (Spoken Word), William Cullum (Vocals, Guitar), Russ Davidson (Bouzouki), Kate Fletcher (Vocals, Violin), Erik Geelhoed (Harmonica), Foxy Hoohargh (Percussion), Emily Jones (Vocals, Guitar), John Joseph (Guitar, Piano), Anthony Nasce (Synthesizer), Sophia Richards (Flute), Gerry Rowe (Vocals, Guitar), Sophie Scott (Cello), Anja Quinn (Vocals, Percussion), Hiroko Uno Thompson (Concertina)
Recorded Choir:
Helen Adshead, Onora Alexander, Patrick Alexander, James Anderson, Teri Bramah, Jayne Connell, Mark Connell, Jan Cowley, Finbar Cullen, Tim Cunion, Russ Davidson, Carmella Fletcher, Pete Fletcher, Tessa Fitzjohn, Foxy Hoohargh, Hilary Irvine, Ali Johnson, Andrea Jonat, John Joseph, Debbie Loosley, Rachel Peatfield, Sophie Scott, Lynn Templar, Hiroko Uno Thompson, Katie Winter, Deb Rowan Wright
Sound Recordists:
Alice Kirk - River Malago on Location
Becky Ripley - Jayne Connell at BBC Bristol
Dan Davies - Farm Adventurers at Windmill Hill City Farm
Listening Exhibition Light Installation created by Zoe Broome and Liam Taylor-West
River Walk Audio Experience created by Jon Somerscales
Project Documentary Film by Angel Sherrard and Poppy Moore of Lensfolk Media
Photographs and additional footage by Natalia Kida and Sam Church
Additional Project Ideas and River Knowledge by Elmslie Philip
Project Promotion by Jane Faram, Ursula Billington, Pete Bennett, Ben Barker and Abigail Hillier
With thanks to Sam, Neil, Susan and Philbert at Philip Street Chapel
The voice of Adge Cutler appears on Track 7 with the kind permission of John Miles
The project was commissioned by Ginkgo Projects and funded by Watkin Jones plc with Bristol City Council.
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