Listings December 2023

Edited by Mick Tems

THE FOLKWALES LISTINGS is an absolutely crucial service: it’s an up-to-date All-Wales Diary of Roots/Folk Events, which covers the borders with England, too – folkophiles will find it essential! The Diary below is as immediate as our latest information allows, but please phone or email to confirm details before travelling to an event. Many professional music places, theatres, agents and publicists do tell us, but last-minute alterations do happen. If you see an incorrect listing, please let us know by posting at the bottom of the page below.

The Folk Movement is an incredibly broad church – however, FolkWales Listings reserves the right to filter out rock, pop, jazz and classical events, on behalf of our more discerning customers!

Online links:

CELTIC HEARTBEAT: Frank Hennessy, BBC Radio Wales, Sundays, 7pm – 9pm

TRAC: MUSIC TRADITIONS WALES: All-Wales folk development organisation

TASC: Traditional Arts Support In The Community for Powys and beyond

CASBAR FOLK: South Wales folk/roots listings

CWLWM CELTAIDD – Wales’ Celtic festival, the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl

GOWER FOLK FESTIVAL: June festival, stunning artists, stunning scenery

TREDEGAR HOUSE FOLK FESTIVAL: May festival which celebrates international music & dance

GŴYL IFAN: Cardiff dance festival celebrating the longest day

FOLKLIFE QUARTERLY: online & printed listings & articles

ACOUSTIC ROUTES: Jacs Radio (broadcasting from Toronto): Every Monday night with Dave Chamberlain (8pm – 10pm) repeated on Saturday (2pm – 4pm).

BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO: (Thursday, 7pm, repeated Friday, 1.30pm). These times may occasionally change by an hour in March and October as Canadian Daylight saving time starts and ends on different dates to the UK.

THE RECORD JOURNAL: Promoting Folk Music In North Wales

DATE	LOCATION	WHAT’S HAPPENING – WHO’S ORGANISING – CONTACTS GLOSSARY: (E) England
FRI 1	Swansea / Abertawe	Seth Lakeman: The Great Hall, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way. Swansea SA1 8EP, 8pm – accompanied by Benji Kirkpatrick & Alex Hart
FRI 1	Pontyclun:	Twmpath/barn dance with Calennig Arbennig: Marquee, Pontyclun Community Centre, Heol yr Orsaf, Pontyclun CF72 9EE, 6pm – there will be food, probably hot dogs and burgers, and Wayne from the Boars Head is doing the bar. Eisteddfod 2024 fundraiser
SAT 2	Abergavenny / Y Fenni	Martin Carthy – A Special Evening of Song & Conversation with Jon Wilks: Borough Theatre, Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5HD, 7.30pm. Tickets: £22
SAT 2	Cardigan / Aberteifi	Cowbois Rhos Botwnnog: Cellar Bar, 25-26 Quay Street, Cardigan SA43 1HU, 8pm
SUN 3	Powys	Martin Carthy – A Special Evening of Song & Conversation with Jon Wilks: The Welfare Ystradgynlais, Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais SA9 1JJ, 7pm
SUN 3	Bristol (E)	UFQ: Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street BS1 5JG, 8pm
SUN 3	Bristol (E)	Penguin Cafe: Beacon Hall, Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol BS1 5AR, 8pm
MON 4	Forest of Dean (E)	The Whiskey River Boys: Forest Folk Club, Orepool Inn, Chepstow Road, Sling, Coleford GL16 8LH, 8pm – Martin & Aidan
TUE 5
TUE 5	Bristol (E)	Billy Bragg: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR, 7.30pm
WED 6	Pontyclun	Song & Music Night: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £3
WED 6	Bristol (E)	The Liam Ward Band: The Old Duke, 45 King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER, 9pm
THU 7	Newport / Casnewydd	Martyn Wyndham-Read & Iris Bishop: Lyceum Folk & Acoustic Club, 45 Malpas Road, Newport NP20 5PJ, 8.30pm
THU 7	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Karine Polwart: Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8pm – SOLD OUT
THU 7	Cardiff / Caerdydd	93rd edition of the Caerdydd Galician Session: The Flute and Tankard, 4 Windsor Place CF10 3BX, 8:30pm-11pm
THU 7	Newport / Casnewydd	Spotlight on Tanglewood: Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Newport NP10 9AE, 8pm
FRI 8	Powys	Xmas party with Captain Cat & The Sailors: Valley (Pontardawe) Folk Club, The Lesser Hall, The Welfare, Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais SA9 1JJ, 8pm (usual venue unavailable)
FRI 8	Llangollen	Roving Crows: Canolfan Ceiriog Glyncei, Llangollen LL20 7HE, 8pm
SAT 9	Merthyr Tudful	Calan: Theatr Soar, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tudful CF47 8UB, 7.30pm
SAT 9	Powys	The Mellstock Band: New Radnor Community Hall, Hall Lane, New Radnor LD8 2SW, 7.30pm
SAT 9	Neath / Castell Nedd	Bronwen Lewis: Gwyn Hall, Orchard Street, Neath SA11 1DU, 7.30pm
SAT 9	Newport / Casnewydd	Daniel Morden: Maindee Library, 79 Chepstow Road, Newport NP19 8BY, 7pm
SAT 9	Pontardawe	The Eclectics, Cancer Challenge Singers: Tabernacle Chapel, Thomas Street, Pontardawe, 7pm, £8 – a Festival of Song – proceeds to Pantry Food Bank & Neath Port Talbot Cancer Challenge
SAT 9	Bristol (E)	Steve Tilston: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
SUN 10	Bristol (E)	The Magpies: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
MON 11	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Amy Wadge – an evening of conversation and song with Matt Johnson: Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8pm – two nights (December 11 & 12), both SOLD OUT
TUE 12
WED 13	Pontyclun	VRï: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue/ Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Entry £10, members £8 – spellbinding multi-award-winning chamberfolk trio, made possible via an Arts Council Wales Night Out grant – SOLD OUT
WED 13	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Merry Hell: Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8pm
THU 14	Pembs / Sir Benfro	John Kirkpatrick – Carolling & Crumpets: Rhosygilwen Mansion, Cilgerran SA43 2TW, 7.30pm. Book tickets
THU 14	Newport / Casnewydd	Tredegar House Fundraiser – The Rob Lear Band, Jeff Japers, Cwtch Galore, Bryn Millichip, Liz Harris, Crumble Brothers: Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Newport NP10 9AE, 8pm
FRI 15	Swansea / Abertawe	Ceri Rhys Matthews, Rowan Coupland: Tangled Parrot, 222 High Street, Swansea, 7pm. £10 – Welsh music from the solo wooden flute and delicate chamber-folk
FRI 15	Trecynon	Candlelit Traditional Folk Christmas: Hen Dy Cwrdd, Alma Street, Trecynon, 7pm – 9pm (free). Cefn Crybwr Folk Club, Llantrisant Folk Club, The Llantrisant Mari Lwyd – there will be a raffle and donations will be accepted to raise funds for the National Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Tâf 2024
FRI 15	Carms / Sir Gâr	Llandovery Folk Dancing: Llanwrda Hall SA19 8HD, 7.30pm – O’r Llawr / From the Floor
FRI 15	Bristol (E)	The Wilderness Yet, Heartwood Chorus: Downend Folk & Roots, Christ Church, Downend, 7.45pm
FRI 15	Bristol (E)	Katey Brooks: Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street BS1 5JG, 8pm
SAT 16	Powys	Cõr Trefaldwyn, Monty Folk – Midwinter Music: St Nicholas Church, The Rectory Lions Bank, Montgomery SY15 6PT, 7pm – singalongs, a glass of mulled wine & mince pie
SUN 17	Llantrisant area	Mari Lwyd Tour: 12 noon: Meet in the car park at the Dynevor Arms, Groes Faen CF72 8NS. 12.45pm:  The Penny Farthing, Southgate CF72 8DG. 1.30pm: The Cokeworks, Beddau CF36 2BL. 2.30pm: Llantrisant Town, taking in The New Inn CF72 8ED; The Bear CF72 8DA; The Wheatsheaf CF72 8BQ; a private house behind the Wheatsheaf and anywhere else that might make us welcome. 4.30pm-ish: The Cross Inn, Cross Inn village, CF72 8AZ (All times are very approximate – once again we will be collecting for the Marie Curie Hospice, Penarth.
SUN 17	Bishop’s Castle (E)	John Kirkpatrick – Castle Carols: The Three Tuns Inn, Salop Street, Bishops Castle SY9 5BW. 3pm-4.30pm
MON 18	Powys	TASC Seven Stars Steady Session: Seven Stars Inn, Aberedw, 7.30pm-9.30pm. Contact TASC
TUE 19
WED 20	Pontyclun	Xmas Party #2: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £3 – with all the trimmings!
THU 21
FRI 22
SAT 23
SUN 24	Noswyl Nadolig
MON 25	Nadolig
TUE 26	Sain Steffan	The Big Sing: The Three Tuns Inn, Salop Street, Bishops Castle, Shropshire SY9 5BW, 1pm-ish
WED 27	Pontyclun	Survivors Night: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission free
THU 28
FRI 29
SAT 30
SUN 31	Nos Galan

If you see a listing which is inaccurate, or you have information about a gig for this month which is not listed, please use the Comment box below.