Dedicated folk night at International Music Festival
TWO leading lights from the Welsh folk scene will be taking centre stage at the North Wales International Music Festival’s first dedicated folk night for over 10 years.
World-renowned trio Awen Celtica will be joined by chamber-folk band VRï for what promises to be an exciting and eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Welsh folk music at the concert at St Asaph Cathedral on Friday, September 27.
Awen Celtica, which was formed in 2016 by long-time friends and Welsh folk exponents, Siân James, Sioned Webb and Arfon Gwilym, have been trailblazers for the genre, both as a band and as individual artists.
Meanwhile, VRï are a young three-piece band who recently scooped the Best Album gong at the Wales Folk Awards 2019, with their debut album Tŷ Ein Tadau.
With Welsh Folk music gaining greater recognition, both at home and on the international stage, Awen Celtica’s Siân James said she was delighted to be part of the festival’s ‘folk night’ that’s being sponsored by Salisburys Chartered Accountants, in St Asaph.
Siân James, who lives in Llanerfyl, Powys and has been performing Welsh folk music since the age of 12, said Awen Celtica’s billing at the festival comes at an exciting time for the genre.
“Welsh folk is definitely not seen as niche music anymore and it is a very exciting time for the scene right now,” Siân explained.
“And festivals such as the North Wales International Music Festival are essential in giving Welsh folk music a wider profile, particularly to younger and new audiences.”
Both Siân and her fellow band member, Sioned Webb have a long connection with the festival, having been taught at Bangor University by the festival’s founder Professor William Mathias.
“From Awen Celtica’s perspective, the three of us began from the absolute roots of Welsh folk, where the delivery of the music was totally pure and in the traditional vein, listening to your family members singing,” said Siân.
“When the three of us play together, the items have a more traditional flavour with harps and folk singing, but Sioned and I like to experiment with two pianos, so the festival audience can expect a really interesting cross-section of vibrant Welsh folk music.”
A well-known triple harp player and musician, fellow Awen Celtica member Sioned said it was an honour to play in the festival’s only dedicated folk night and was delighted to be double-billing with VRï on September 27, as she taught fiddle player Patrick Rimes the piano when he was a teenager.
Sioned believes that bands like VRï are the new faces of the Welsh folk tradition.
Tickets are available online, from Theatr Clwyd, Mold – 01352 344101 or Cathedral Frames, St Asaph – 01745 582929.
For more information about the North Wales International Music Festival, visit www. nwimf.com.