NBF - Island Spirit

Join Derby-based songwriting duo –vocalist Nina Blaszczyk and guitarist Phil Baggaley—for a spellbinding musical performance at Newark Book Festival of their latest project, Island Spirit. Known for their soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics, Nina and Phil combine fresh vocal emotion with seasoned musical craft to create a unique and moving live experience. Island Spirit, based on a story by Tim Harvey, follows a young Polish woman who travels to a remote Scottish island in search of her roots. Taking a job at a local whisky distillery, she begins to unravel the story of her mother—and discovers secrets about the father she never knew. Told through original songs and narrative, the show explores themes of family, belonging, identity, and the powerful pull of the past.