CEREDIGION'S internationally-acclaimed harpist Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita have raised £2,000 in support of the Dyfi Osprey Centre and the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust.

The duo, whose new album SOAR will celebrate its official release in the Observatory at the Dyfi Osprey Centre on April 27, pledged to give all monies for the special intimate concert (which holds only 45 people) to the Osprey Centre back in autumn 2017. The show sold out almost as soon as tickets were released.

SOAR, which is the duo’s first release since their award-winning debut album ‘Clychau Dibon’ in 2013, explores themes of migration, and journeys – both emotional and physical, and continues the duo’s intrepid exploration and celebration of the parallels and differences between their two instruments and cultures.

SOAR continues the avian theme started in Clychau Dibon, highlighting another amazing connection between Wales and Senegal that has recently re-established itself.

The opening track ‘Clarach’ is named after the first Dyfi osprey in modern times to be born in Wales who subsequently returned from West Africa as an adult to rear her own chicks in the UK.

Back in the Middle Ages, Wales had a large osprey population but by the early 17th century it was persecuted to extinction. Their ancient presence proves that migration between Senegal and Wales is nothing new.

“I like the bird’s freedom to migrate to different places,” Seckou says. “They soar their way, and nothing stops them, but they know where they’re heading, where they’ll find peace and be happy. I’ve been on the same journey, but in a different way.”

Catrin said: “The Dyfi ospreys have played a major part in the theme in our new album. We recognised this amazing parallel between our two nations – as we were busy musically exploring our different cultures, there was this incredible natural connection busy re-establishing itself at the same time.

“We discovered on talking to Emyr Evans at Dyfi Osprey Centre that Clarach, the first Dyfi Osprey to be recorded back after migration, was born just as we were recording our first album back in 2013 – so we decided to name the first track on the album after her.”

The album cover features a shot of Nora, White 03, taken by Emyr Evans, and his shots are featured throughout the album artwork. “Emyr Evans at the Dyfi Osprey Centre has been a real source of inspiration and has been incredibly generous with both his time and knowledge and has also kindly allowed us to use some of his magnificent photographs which feature in the album artwork”, says Tamsin Davies, from Theatr Mwldan, producers of the project.

The album has already been attracting some incredible reviews, with Robin Denselow describing it as “…exquisite”, and Tim Cumming, who wrote a feature for Songlines Magazine saying: "It’s easy to see the osprey as a metaphor for their music, the two of them able to tap into and lock on to some internal guidance system, a musician’s satnav that’s developed over the years of recording and performance, so that they can go all the way out and come all the way back and land on the same twig without missing a beat. They are now one of the most popular world music acts of this decade".

“Sublimely beautiful,” says BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe.

Catrin and Seckou have also pledged to auction the first copy of their signed and numbered limited-edition vinyl run to raise money for Velindre Cancer Care in Cardiff, where Catrin is currently being treated for breast cancer.

The album release will be followed by a Spring UK tour in April and May with dates in Machynlleth (Y Tabernacl on Thursday, April 26– tickets still available), Truro, Cardigan (May 2), Cardiff, Milton Keynes, London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Bangor, Swansea, Bath, Hay Festival, Derby, Brighton, Hay-on-Wye and Swaledale - visit catrinfinchandseckoukeita.com for details.

Catrin and Seckou will be supported on selected dates by singer-songwriter Gwyneth Glyn.

The tour is produced by Cardigan’s Theatr Mwldan and SOAR will release on April 27 on bendigedig, a label partnership between ARC Music Productions International Ltd and Theatr Mwldan.