Imagine a multi-genre, multi-cultural, multi-artform performance shape-shifting into spiritual awakening, and you begin to glimpse the main event of the Stroud Sacred Music Festival 2026.
Locally-based, transnational artists bring music, singing and spoken word from J.S. Bach to Arvo Pärt, T.S. Eliot, entwined with Georgian and Moroccan sources.

Prepare to welcome:
Cassie Yukawa McBurney
Simon McBurney
The Acapellies choir
Chloe Rose Laing
Mohamed Errebbaa & Tagna Groove

Let them draw you into the eye of the storm of life, to sheer silence – a silence which is itself alive with Echoes of Eternity: the still point of the turning world.
There, where the dance is.

TOWARDS SILENCE | Cassie Yukawa-McBurney & Simon McBurney
An immersive work across music, theatre and space.
Towards Silence is a live work for piano, voice and silence, unfolding as a shared field within the church. Music and spoken word emerge and dissolve into one another, guiding the listener toward a centre of stillness – a place where sound, language and presence meet. Rooted in attention and embodied listening, the work opens a quiet, collective encounter with the sacred. In the words of Arvo Pärt: “I could compare my music to white light which contains all colours… this prism could be the spirit of the listener.”
A gathering for silent prayer, readings, meditation, reflection and conversation.

TRADITIONAL GEORGIAN SONGS | Eleanor Holliday and the Acapellies Choir
A capella (unaccompanied) polyphonic singing can have a profound effect on both the singers and the receivers of the sound. The Acapellies Choir create an immersive, resonant soundscape, rather like bathing in pure human sound with loving, present, un-amplified voices. The pre-Christian and orthodox harmonies arise from a deep bond with the earth, and can connect us at an instinctive level, especially if eyes are closed. Skilful dynamics make use of the variety of vocal tones in the choir, to weave harmonies and dissonances that move the soul and vibrate the cells of our bodies.
Eleanor Holliday has been running choirs and teaching sung and spoken voice for the past 25 years. Her inclusive approach ensures her groups are accessible and affordable. Increasingly recognised for their unique gifts and skills, Eleanor and her Acapellies Choir have received arts funding and are often invited to sing at special events in the UK. “I see singing as a direct way to balance the “madness” of the world through generous song,” she says.
www.eleanorholliday.uk

CHLOË ROSE LAING / MOHAMED ERREBBAA & TAGNA GROOVE
Original music by Chloë Rose Laing, followed by the Mohamed Errebbaa & Tagna Groove full band.
An evening of global music that will see intensity, power chords and stories of arrival and departure. This performance will harness the deep trance power of the Gnawa repertoire and showcase new material, bringing elements of desert blues and heavy groove to lift the spirits and dance.

Chloë Rose is a vocalist & songwriter based in Bristol UK. Her vocal style is a blend of sultry R & B tones and the resounding emotive power of reggae’s message-driven melodies. Singing truth to power is her spiritual and political message, with a driving purpose to galvanise humanity to heal and uplift the spirit. Her music bridges past to present richly harmonising Neo-Soul and the spiritual depth of Reggae with intricate Afro Gnawa rhythms played on the bass Guembri.

Passionate about sounds of the African diaspora, for over 15 years Chloë has explored musical collaborations in the UK and Morocco. In 2026 Chloë brings us her debut 11-track multi-genre album ‘Blazing Fire.’

Tagna Groove is a dynamic musical ensemble founded and led by Moroccan Maalem (master musician) Mohamed Errebbaa. Based in Bristol, UK, the group is renowned for its innovative fusion of traditional Gnawa music with contemporary genres such as funk, Afrobeat, blues, and jazz. This blend results in powerful performances that honour ancient traditions while engaging modern audiences. Mohamed Errebbaa’s efforts to bridge cultural divides brings the rich heritage of Gnawa music to new audiences, ensuring its relevance in the contemporary music landscape.