about us

// biography

Lusitanian Ghosts features ancient Portuguese chordophones, or “violas”, promoting the sounds of these traditional folk instruments in the 21st Century.

Re-casting these heritage folk violas into rock n roll songs, the artist collective writes from a socio-political perspective on building a better world, creating songs from and for the heart and the mind.

It is a musical project that mixes indie songwriting with traditional Portuguese instruments like the Beiroa, Campaniça, Braguesa, Terceirense and Amarantina guitars – or violas as they are called in Portugal: each with its own string arrangements and tunings.

Lusitanian Ghosts was founded by Neil Leyton and Micke Ghost, when Leyton took a viola Amarantina from Lisbon to Stockholm; Leyton then decided to make an experimental album mixing the various regional Lusitanian (Portuguese) chordophones with their usual brand of singer-songwriter rock n roll.

The collective have recorded three full-length albums, the self-titled debut at Canoa Studios in Portugal and “Exotic Quixotic” as well as “III” at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Featuring Neil Leyton on vocals, Micke Ghost on vocals and the Amarantina; Johnny Sousa on Drums and the Adufe, Janne Olsson on bass and the viola Beirão – the bass cousin of the traditional Beiroa, along with ToZé “RAIA” Bexiga on the Viola Campaniça as well as Abel Beja on the Terceira. Also, on the first two albums Vasco Ribeiro Casais aka OMIRI on the Braguesa and Nyckelharpa; along with O Gajo on the viola Campaniça who joins the Ghosts on stage and on record whenever time allows.

A feature documentary film was made during the recording of the Ghosts’ first album, that also interviews several chordophone experts who explain why most of these Portuguese ancient instruments became forgotten – almost extinct – over time.

These historic instruments… they are the real Lusitanian Ghosts.

The Lusitanian Ghosts collective have gone on to perform at showcase festivals such as Reeperbahn Festival, Live at Heart, Future Echoes, and Folk Alliance (Montreal).

On July 4th, 2025, they perform at Lisbon’s Tivoli Theatre with the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Rui Ribeiro.

Also in 2025, they have released a compilation album “Chordophone Rock n Roll” as well as a live album, “Live Ghosts”.