The Blackheart Orchestra

Blackheart Orchestra is officially the smallest orchestra in the world. Two people playing 13 instruments between them, Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington draw on their backgrounds in rock, folk, electronica and classical music to create a unique sound frequently compared to early Pink Floyd, Portishead and Kate Bush as well as contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Described as an ”Avant garde musical utopia” they perform in their ‘musical space station’ of instruments including guitar, bass, percussion, mandola, piano, organ, omnichord and vintage synthesisers. After over 1000 concerts and 4 albums they’ve played everywhere from Southampton to Sydney including London’s Palladium and Royal Albert Hall while piling up achievements from a nomination for the Progressive Music Limelight Award, Best British Duo, #4 Best New British Band, and #10 Most Important Rock Event of 2020. More recently their multi award-winning 2022 album Hotel Utopia went straight into the UK Rock Chart at #13, being called “Epic” by Uncut magazine, “One of the best albums of the year” by USA’s Prog Rock Central and going on to win Best British Album, Best Song and Best Female Vocalist in the USA Progressive Rock Awards.