Keening: Voices of the Stranding
On the 16th July 2023 a mass stranding of 55 long-finned pilot whales occurred at Traigh Mhor at North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The impact of that event sent ripples through the communities involved.
Environmental artist Sam Gare and composer Alex South led on the creation of a multi-disciplinary art project commemorating the stranding, which took place in July 2025. The creative audio project will build upon this, bringing sound, music, song, testimonies and spoken word together to immerse the listener in the event and it’s emotional repercussions.
Listen to a sample of the testimonies provided by individuals who were present at the stranding event in 2023, or have had an impactful encounter with cetaceans in the Hebrides. All audio shared with permission.
‘Keening’ was a finalist and received a special mention at the Whicker Podcast Pitch Awards at Sheffield DocFest 2024. A panel of audio industry professionals commended the pitched audio for its atmosphere, evoking the experience of being on that Hebridean beach when the stranding occurred.
The trailer we created for The Whickers combines audio testimony from artist Sam Gare, and from two individuals who witnessed the 2023 stranding and another stranding in the Hebrides. The music is Cetacea, created by Alex South and Katherine Wren. Francesca Turauskis created the immersive sound of this trailer. All audio shared with permission.
Aoife Glass: Producer, Editor, Writer, Audio
Francesca Turauskis: Executive Producer
Sam Gare: Artist, Researcher
Alex South: Lead composer
Phil Hall: Photographer
If you would like to support the development of this audio project, if you have a story to share, or if you would like to contribute your time or expertise, please feel free to get in touch.