Listings October 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; (NW) North Wales.
SUN 1	Newport / Casnewydd	People’s Folk Day Fundraiser – 10.30am: songwriting workshop with Huw Williams; 11.45am: songwriters’ concert with Phil Millichip, Ronnie 3-chords, Tanglewood, Mac Perret, Mike Johnson, Paul Kaye Jones, Paul Chilcott, Blessed Crow. 2pm: break for barbeque. 3.30pm: The Empathy Shed Experience, The James Clode Band. 5.30pm-7.30pm: Grand Open Mic. Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Newport NP10 9AE. Tickets on day: £5 (not including barbeque)
SUN 1	Llanelli	The Gentle Good, PYST: Y Cwtsh, 11 Coalbrook Road, Llanelli SA15 5HU, 7pm. £10
SUN 1	Forest of Dean (E)	Huw Williams: Forest Folk Club, Orepool Inn, Chepstow Road, Sling GL16 8LH, 8pm
SUN 1	Bristol (E)	Jacob & Drinkwater: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
MON 2	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Welsh Music Session: The Owain Glyndwr, 10 Saint John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL, 8pm
TUE 3
WED 4	Pontyclun	S&M Night: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £3
WED 4	Swansea / Abertawe	The Gentle Good, Angharad Jenkins supporting: Dylan Thomas’s Birthplace, 5, Cwmdonkin Drive SA2 0RA, 7pm – SOLD OUT
WED 4	Bristol (E)	The Jake Leg Jug Band: The Old Duke, 45 King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER, 9pm
THU 5	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Leveret: Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch CF15 9QD, 8pm
THU 5	Llandeilo	The Gentle Good, PYST: Yr Hen Marchnad/The Old Martket, Llandeilo, 7pm
THU 5	Newport / Casnewydd	Spotlight on Barry Scouse: Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Newport NP10 9AE, 8pm
THU 5	Cardiff / Caerdydd	91st Caerdydd Galician Session: The Flute and Tankard, 4 Windsor Place CF10 3BX, Cardiff, 8:30pm-11 pm. Contact  Jorge Bellón
FRI 6	Pontardawe	Eddie Reader: Pontardawe Arts Centre, Herbert Street, Pontardawe SA8 4ED, 8pm
FRI 6	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Stephen Taberner’s Cardiff Singing Weekend: Dewi Sant, the Cornerstone Centre, Charles Street, Cardiff CF10 2GA / the Marble Hall, Temple of Peace, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AP. Cost: £145 – please book. (Until Sunday October 8)
FRI 6	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Max Boyce 50th Anniversary Concert: Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff CF10 5AL, 7.30pm (two nights)
FRI 6	Swansea Valley / Cwmtawe	Open Night: Valley Folk Club (Pontardawe), Glais RFC, 609 Birchgrove Road, Glais SA7 9EN, 8pm
SAT 7	Dolgellau	Julie Murphy & Ceri Rhys Matthews: Theatr Fach Dolgellau, Glyndwr Street, Dolgellau LL40 1BD, 7.30pm
SAT 7	Merthyr Tudful	The Klezmernauts, Carwyn Towyn: Theatr Soar, Canolfan Soar, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tudful CF47 8UB, 7.30pm
SAT 7	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Isambards’ Wheel, Colum Regan supporting: The Gate, Keppoch Street, Cardiff CF24 3JW, 7.30pm. Tickets: £11 inc booking fee – Long Run The Fox, Long Fly The Lark album launch
SAT 7	Cwmbran	The Liam Ward Band: Borough Blues Club, Cwmbran RFC, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran NP44 1NY (times TBC)
SAT 7	Denbighshire  / Sir Dinbych	Arfon Wyn: Capel y Fron a’r Brwcws, Dinbych, 7pm
SUN 8	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Max Boyce 50th Anniversary Concert: Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff CF10 5AL, 7.30pm (two nights)
MON 9	Cardiff Caerdydd	Welsh Music Session: The Owain Glyndwr, 10 Saint John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL, 8pm
TUE 10	Ceredigion	Ryan Young: Theatr Mwldan, Bath House Road, Cardigan SA43 1JY, 7.30pm
WED 11	Pontyclun	Colum Sands: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £8 (members £5) – Wonderful singer-songwriter from the North of Ireland
WED 11	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Damien O’Kane & Ron Block: Acapela Studio: Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8upm
WED 11	Powys	Ryan Young: Wyeside Arts Centre, Castle Street, Builth Wells LD2 3BN, 7.30pm
THU 12	Abergavenny / Y Fenni	The Budapest Cafe Orchestra: Borough Theatre, Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5HD, 7.30pm
THU 12	Cardiff / Caerdydd	The Staves: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 7pm – part of Llais Festival
FRI 13	Powys	Ryan Young & David Foley: The Welfare Ystradgynlais, Brecon Road, Ystradgynlais SA9 1JJ, 8pm
FRI 13	Cardiff / Caerdydd	James Yorkston and Nina Persson: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 6.30pm – part of Llais Festival
FRI 13	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Both Sides Now – Celebrating Joni Mitchell with Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula, ESKA, Gwenno, BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 8,30pm – part of Llais Festival
FRI 13	Gwynedd	The Trials of Cato: Cabaret Pontio, Theatr Bryn Terfel, Prifysgol Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2TQ, 8pm
FRI 13	Pontypridd	The Gentle Good, Y Dail: Clwb y Bont, 85a Taff Street, Pontypridd CF37 4SL, 7.30pm
FRI 13	Pembs / Sir Penfro	Churchfitters: Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, SA67 8AX, 7.30pm
SAT 14	Newport / Casnewydd	Hannah Read & Michael Starkey: Llyfrgell Maindee Library, 79 Chepstow Road, Maindee NP19 8BY, 7pm. Tickets: £10 – an Arts Council of Wales Night Out event
SAT 14	Barry / Y Barri	The Gentle Good, Parisa Fouladi: Memo Arts Centre, Gladstone Road, Barry CF62 8NA, 8pm
SAT 14	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Sian James: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 8.30pm – part of Llais Festival
SAT 14	Swansea / Abertawe	Christian Garrick & the Budapest Café Orchestra: Taliesyn Arts Centre, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, Swansea SA2 8PZ, 7.30pm
SAT 14	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Mariza: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 9pm – part of Llais Festival
SAT 14	Baglan	The Gentle Good: Tyn y Twr Tavern, 61, Tyn Y Twr, Baglan SA12 8YB, 6pm
SAT 14	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Andy Tamlyn Jones, Jon Toft: Mumbales, Newton Road, Mumbles SA3 4BQ, 7pm (free) – launch of the Mumbles Dialect Project
SAT 14	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Qawwali Flamenco: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL, 9pm – part of Llais Festival
SAT 14	Powys	Lindisfarne: Theatr Brycheiniog, Canal Wharf, Brecon LD3 7EW, 7.30pm
SAT 14	Bristol (E)	Daoirí Farrell: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG 8pm
SAT 14	Chester (E)	Christina Alden & Alex Patterson: St Mary’s Handbridge Centre, Overleigh Road, Handbridge, Chester CH4 7HL, 7.30pm
SUN 15	Cardiff / Caerdydd	The Unthanks All-Dayer: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff Bay CF10 5AL – 2pm: The Bairns performed by Rachel Unthank and the Winterset; 4pm: Q+A in BBC Hoddinott Hall (free); 6pm: Here’s The Tender Coming and Last, performed by The Unthanks – part of Llais Festival
SUN 15	Bristol (E)	Painted Sky: The Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
MON 16	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Welsh Music Session: The Owain Glyndwr, 10 Saint John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL, 8pm
MON 16	Powys	TASC Seven Stars Steady Session: Seven Stars Inn, Aberedw, 7.30pm-9.30pm. Contact TASC
TUE 17	Flintshire / Sir Fflint	Caffrey/McGurk/Madge: Dragons Breath Folk Club, Treuddyn Village Hall, Queen St, Treuddyn, Mold CH7 4LU, 8pm
WED 18	Pontyclun	Song & Music Night: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £3
WED 18	Ruthin	Gwilym Bowen Rhys: The Feathers Inn/Tafarn y Plu, 52 Well Street, Ruthin, LL15 1AW
WED 18	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Luke Jackson Trio: Acapela Studio: Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8pm
WED 18	Swansea / Abertawe	Baggyrinkle: The Swigg, Unit 1B, National Waterfront Museum, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3RD, 7pm (free)
THU 19	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Fairport Convention: Acapela Studio, Pentyrch, 8pm – SOLD OUT
THU 19	Mold / Yr Wyddgrug	Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth: Caffi Isa Arts & Community Centre, Mercia Drive, Mynydd Isa, Mold CH7 6UH, 7.15pm
THU 19	Newport / Casnewydd	Zoe Mulford: Lyceum Folk & Acoustic Club, 45 Malpas Road, Newport NP20 5PJ, 8.30pm
THU 19	Newport / Casnewydd	Spotlight with Chris Dale: Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Rogerstone NP10 9AE, 8pm
FRI 20	Caerfilli CBC	Pentreffest – Steve Turner, Metheglin, Deux Sans Frontières, Blanche Rowen & Mike Gulston, Geoff Beilby, Godot & more: Rudry Parish Hall, Ty Sarn, Rudry CF83 3DF (until October 22)
FRI 20	Swansea Valley / Cwmtawe	Filkin’s Drift: Valley Folk Club (Pontardawe), Glais RFC, 609 Birchgrove Road, Glais SA7 9EN, 8pm
FRI 20	Welshpool / Y Trallwng	The Gentle Good, PYST: Ysgol Cymraeg Y Trallwng, Red Bank, Welshpool SY21 7PW, 7.30pm
FRI 20	Pembs / Sir Benfro	Cerys Hafana: Mariners, Welsh Road, Haverfordwest SA62 3NH, 7.30pm
FRI 20	Barry / Y Barri	One Night In Dublin – The Wild Murphys: Memo Arts Centre, Gladstone Road, Barry CF62 8NA, 7.30pm. Tickets: £25
FRI 20	Llanwrda	Llandovery Folk Dancing: Llanwrda Hall SA19 8HD, 7.30pm, £7.50 – Mic Spenceley: Contras & Squares
FRI 20	Bristol (E)	Cooper & Toller, Steffan Lewis: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
FRI 20	Pontypridd	Cerys Hafana: Parc Arts, Princess Street, Treforest  CF37 1RY, £10. Doors: 7pm
SAT 21	Powys	ALAW: Victoria Hall, Victoria Square, Llanwrtyd Wells, 7pm
SAT 21	Mold / Yr Wyddgrug	The Gentle Good, Gwilym Bowen Rhys: Mold Cricket Club, Chester Road, Mold CH7 1UF, 7.30pm
SAT 21	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Police Dog Hogan: Acapela Studio, Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch CF15 9QD, 8pm
SAT 21	Cardiff / Caerdydd	The Julie July Band: Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Harbour Drive Bay, Cardiff CF10 4PT, 7.30pm
SAT 21	Oswestry / Croesoswallt	Rachel McShane & The Cartographers: Hermon Art Centre, Chapel Street, Oswestry SY11 1LF, 8pm
SAT 21	Bristol (E)	The Liam Ward Band: The Old Duke, 45 King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER, 9pm
SUN 22	Gwynedd	The Gentle Good: Tafarn y Fic, 80 Bangor Street, Y Felinheli LL56 4PJ, 3pm
SUN 22	Bristol (E)	Jessca Hoop: The Bristol Folk House, 40A Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, 8pm
SUN 22	Shrewsbury (E)	Steven Fearing: The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE, 7.45pm
MON 23	Pembs / Sir  Benfro	Gordie McKeeman & His Rhythm Boys: Rhosygilwen Mansion, Pembrokeshire SA43 2TW, 7.30pm
MON 23	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Welsh Music Session: The Owain Glyndwr, 10 Saint John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL, 8pm
TUE 24	Cardiff / Caerdydd	CANCELLED – Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage: Roots Unearthed, L3 Lounge, St David’s Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1AH – Repairs on RAAC are still ongoing
WED 25	Pontyclun	Bruce Watson: Llantrisant Folk Club, Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Palalwyf Avenue / Castan Road, Pontyclun CF72 9EH, 8.30pm. Admission: £8 (members £5) – Entertaining singer & writer from Australia
THU 26	Cardigan / Aberteifi	Other Voices Cardigan / Lleisiau Eraill Aberteifi – Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhríaín, Susan O’Neill, Cerys Hafana, Sans Soucis, Adwaith, Amy Michelle, Angharad, Climbing Trees, Chalk, Dead Method, Fia Moon, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, HMS Morris, Joshua Burnside, Lemoncello, Les SalAmandas, Mace The Great, Mali Hâf, MELLT, Minas, Mount Palomar, Samana, Scustin, Seba Safe, Tara Bandito, Uly: St Mary’s Church & Music Trail around the town – until Saturday October 28. (Ireland’s iconic music festival has returned to Cardigan and Theatr Mwldan after a three-year hiatus)
THU 26	Newport / Casnewydd	Kevin Schofield Charity Night: Newport Folk Club, Newport Fugitives Athletic Club, High Cross Road, Newport NP10 9AE, 8pm
THU 26	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Tune session: The Railway, 132 Station Road, Cardiff CF14 2FH, 8.15pm. Contact Mike Greenwood
FRI 27	Gwynedd	Catrin Finch & Aoife Ni Bhriain: Theatr Bryn Terfel, Prifysgol Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2TQ, 7.30pm
SAT 28	Abergavenny /Y Fenni	Breabach: Borough Theatre, Cross Street, Abergavenny NP7 5HD, 7.30pm. Tickets: £22
SAT 28	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Filkin’s Drift: Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Harbour Drive Bay, Cardiff CF10 4PT, 7.30pm
SAT 28	Swansea / Abertawe	Ceilidh with Rough Edge: Swansea Scout & Guide HQ, Brynmill, Swansea, 7pm-9.45pm
SUN 29	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Budapest Cafe Orchestra: Acapela Studio: Heol Y Pentre, Pentyrch, Cardiff CF15 9QD, 8pm
MON 30	Cardiff / Caerdydd	Welsh Music Session: The Owain Glyndwr, 10 Saint John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL, 8pm
TUE 31

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.