Clwb Ifor Bach presents
Contemporary Welsh Folk Tour
with:
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog
The Gentle Good (full band & The Mavron String Quartet)Georgia Ruth
Tour Dates:
October
* Thur 18, Welfare, Ystradgynlais | 01639 843163 | thewelfare.co.uk
* Fri 19 Muni, Pontypridd | 08000147111 | rct-arts.org.uk
* Sat 20, Miners Institute, Blackwood | 01495 227206 | blackwoodminersinstitute.com
* Tue 23, Theatr Felinfach | 01570 470697 | theatrfelinfach.com
* Thur 25, Hafren, Newtown | 01686 614555 | thehafren.co.uk
* Fri 26, Theatr Stiwt, Rhosllannerchrugog | 01978 841300 | stiwt.co.uk
November
* Thur 01, Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli | 01758 704088
* Fri 02, Galeri, Caernarfon | 01286 685222 | galericaernarfon.com/
Let’s pull our chairs closer than ever before, to experience old roots reawakening. Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog, The Gentle Good and Georgia Ruth; some of Wales’ best contemporary folk artists are embarking on an eight date theatre tour in the autumn.
Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog was formed in 2005 by three brothers from the Llŷn Peninsula. At that time they played an eclectic mix of punkish, country-esque songs laced with a splash of traditional Welsh folk songs. By now, the band have adopted four other musicians, and have established a more tender, harmony filled folk and country vibe to their set. They have recently released their third studio album to rave reviews; performing regularly throughout Wales and beyond the past year has seen them on the stage at The Green Man Festival, No Direction Home and the Dinefwr Literature Festival.
Gareth Bonello, the man behind The Gentle Good, feeds his original songs with the essence of traditional folk tunes, yet succeeds in delivering something new; something that, as with all fine folk offerings, will stand the test of time. Gareth signed to Welsh record label Gwymon in 2007 and has released three critically acclaimed records; the EP ‘Dawel Disgyn’ (2007) debut album, ‘While You Slept I Went Out Walking’ (2008) and the follow up album ‘Tethered for the Storm’ (2011). For the most recent record, which was nominated as one of the albums of the year at the inaugural Welsh Music Prize, Gareth worked with composer Seb Goldfinch and the Mavron String Quartet to bring subtle baroque string arrangements to his finger picked guitar sound. In the autumn of 2011 Gareth was selected by The British Council and PRSF to take up an artistic residency in China. Travelling to Chengdu in Sichuan province, Gareth began work on a new record that fuses elements of traditional Chinese and Welsh music. Although often seen performing as a solo artist he will part of a 10 piece band for this tour, which will include the critically renowned string ensemble The Mavron Quartet.
Growing up in West Wales, Georgia Ruth Williams became accustomed to sea mists, strange sounds and the melancholy beauty of Anne Briggs, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell; songs found in her mother’s record collection. Quickly gathering support for her hybrid of folk and blues, she appeared both at Glastonbury and SWN Festival (curated by Huw Stephens) and recorded a session at Maida Vale, which was played by Bethan Elfyn on her Radio 1 in Wales show. Now aged 23, with a harp, an assortment of reed organs and an unfailingly haunting voice, Georgia has just released an EP on 10” vinyl called ‘In Luna’, which presents a new collection of songs that recall those early-inherited sounds to startling effect. Her version of the old Appalachian song, ‘Old Blue’, was recently featured as MPFree of the Day on the Lauren Laverne’s 6 Music Morning Show. She will be performing at both The Green Man Festival and How The Light Gets In Festival over the summer and is due to enter the studio to record her debut album. Georgia is also known as a presenter on both Radio Cymru and Radio Wales.
Between them, the artists have performed at some of Britain’s largest music festivals; Glastonbury, Latitude and Green Man, but who could imagine a better stage than this?
