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THE MUSIC DIARY…

Welcome to our wonderful Folk Club, which is staging live shows every Wednesday in the Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Castan Road/Palalwyf Avenue CF72 9EH, at 8.30pm. 

Our Zoomaround sessions start on the first Tuesday of the month (8.15pm for 8.30pm) – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89787380016 Meeting ID: 897 8738 0016 – no password. We hope to see you there!

September 27, 2023: Do-something-we’re-not-expecting Night

Our regulars are each known for their own particular way of presenting a song, tune or a poem. So, tonight’s challenge to them is to surprise us all with something a little bit different…

Entry: £3

Sunday, October 1, 2023: Llantrisant Folk Club AGM

Paying Folk Club members are invited to come to the Annual General Meeting (1pm at the Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club.) 

October 11, 2023:  Colum Sands (Ireland)

Magical songwriter Colum Sands has performed in over 30 countries around the world, confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humorous details of life.

A member of the internationally renowned Sands Family from County Down, Colum established his reputation as a songwriter with the release of his first solo album, Unapproved Road in 1981. Songs like ‘Whatever You Say, Say Nothing’, and ‘Almost Every Circumstance’ were soon in the repertoire of artists from Billy Connolly to Maddy Prior and June Tabor.

His second album, The March Ditch, inspired a special BBC television documentary and songs like ‘The Man with the Cap’ and ‘Looking the loan of a Spade’ confirmed his unique ability to observe locally and appeal universally. On his travels around the world, he soon discovered that many of his songs had arrived before him, carried by other singers and in recordings by fellow performers like Andy Irvine, Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, Roy Bailey, Mick Hanley and Enda Kenny.

Between touring and recording, countless other performers have been introduced to the air waves through Colum’s work as a presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s Folk Club programme, he has also broadcast a series of programmes for BBC Radio 2 and has compiled and presented a series RTE Radio called Rootin About. His work in radio and studio production earned him the Living Tradition Award for services to Folk and Traditional Music. Colum has also produced countless albums for traditional singers and songwriters, he also produced four tracks on the Sound Neighbours CD, released by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, an album which was short listed for a Grammy Nomination. His ninth album, Turn the Corner, came out in 2012. His songs continue to travel and his tenth collection, Song Bridge, was released in 2020.

Admission: £8 (members £5)

October 25, 2023: Bruce Watson (Australia)

Bruce Watson’s performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart-wrenching or side-splittingly funny.

Bruce is an icon of the Australian folk scene. Based in Melbourne, he plays regularly at festivals, folk clubs and other venues throughout Australia. He has received a stack of songwriting awards and had his songs covered by performers of the calibre of Eric Bogle, Joe Dolce, Greg Champion, and a host of other Australian and international performers.

He has produced seven albums of original songs, received radio airplay across Australia, and he appears on many compilation albums.  Bruce has released his latest and eighth album, Year of Wonders, accompanied by some of the cream of Melbourne’s folk musicians.

Admission: £8 (members £5)

November 15, 2023:  James Delarre and Saul Rose

Spectacular fiddler James Delarre and respected folk melodeonist and singer Saul Rose met at Sidmouth Folk Week in 2007, brought together to play music for Morris Offspring. After a punishing week of morning workshops and all day and evening performances with the dancers, they had become firm friends (and make up two-thirds of the Eliza Carthy Trio.) They continued to play for Morris Offspring for a couple of years and shared the stage with Jim Moray. Every time they meet the music flows – with the timeless combination of fiddle and box, James and Saul have been making magic together; the duo intertwine seamlessly, dancing around the tunes between the notes, finding space and air and breathing fresh life and energy.

 James is a founding member of the critically-acclaimed band Topette!!, the now-disbanded Mawkin and Mawkin:Causley and is in demand within the traditional folk scene and beyond. Saul is a long-time member of Waterson:Carthy, winners of two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Saul, who was nominated for the Musician of The Year award in 2010, was one-third of the power-folk band Faustus and is a founding member of Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band.  Please listen to a video of James and Saul raising the roof and playing two tunes: ‘Sauter Lapin’ and ‘Freca‘ 

Admission: £8 (members £5)

November 29, 2023:  Dave Boulton

Dave is a singer and songwriter from Stoke On Trent. He says: “Some of you will know me from my days performing with my old mate Jeff Parton in our duo His Worship and The Pig. Since we retired, I have been surprised by the level of interest still shown in the music we made and performed for over 20 years. People enquire about CDs or specific tracks – some are playing them as part of their repertoire. Our songs have even been recorded by other performers or used for various celebrations and a few for some touching remembrances and memorials.

“All this made me think that there is still a reason to keep these songs alive and available. I’m also hoping that people who haven’t heard the songs might also be interested.” Dave has created a website which hopes will provide a safe place for the lyrics, recordings and photographs, triggering some fond memories of those times.

December 13, 2023:  VRï (Cymru/Wales)

VRï are Jordan Price Williams (cello, voice), Aneirin Jones (violin, voice) and Patrick Rimes (viola, violin, voice) – three young men from deepest, darkest chapel-going Wales who have mined the cultural upheaval of past centuries and drawn inspiration from the incredible story of a time when Wales’ traditional music and dance was suppressed by Methodist chapels, and, earlier, its language by the Act of Union. As audio archaeologists, VRï have unearthed long-lost nuggets that shed a new light on a vibrant folk tradition that harnesses the raw energy of the fiddle with the finesse of the violin, the beauty of chamber music with the joy and hedonism of a pub session. Their songs, sung with powerful vocal harmonies, tell stories of the people who struggled 200 years ago, just as many struggle today. It’s a wonderful and unique soundscape that connects across the centuries to give us a sense of belonging, of community, and a magical feeling of weightlessness and uplifting freedom. 

VRï’s 2019 debut album Tŷ Ein Tadau (House Of Our Fathers) received a five-star review in FolkWales Online Magazine and Songlines magazine, plus numerous awards nominations and wins. Their second album, Islais a Genir (A Sung Whisper) netted credits for Best Album and Best Instrumental Track in the prestigious Wales Folk Awards, held the Millennium Centre’s Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff Bay, broadcast on BBC Radio Wales and Welsh language TV channel S4C. 

​Please watch a video of VRï performing ‘Aberhonddu’ – a soldier gets called away to fight in the Napoleonic wars, and he misses his home town of Brecon. The Arts Council of Wales has secured for us a Night Out grant. 

Entry: £10 (members £8)

January 17, 2024: Fundraiser for the Pontypridd National Eisteddfod, featuring Calennig Arbennig & Bethan Nia

January 31, 2024: Nick Hart

(£8 entry, £5 members)

February 21, 2024: Showcase with Aidan’s Harmonicas (Wales)

(£3 entry)

March 6, 2024: Whiskey River (Wales/England)

(£8 entry, £5 members)

April 10, 2024: Jon Loomes

(£8 entry, £5 members)

April 24, 2024: Tom McConville and Michael Biggins

(£8 entry, £5 members)

June 5, 2024: Fundraiser for Parkinsons with Eirwen Malin, Phil Thomas, John and Briege Morgan

Proceeds will be going to SParky Samba, a project exploring how samba percussion might help people with Parkinsons live well with the condition. This is a local project working as part of the Parkinsons UK, a charity registered in Wales and England No 258197.

November 6, 2024: Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira (Canada & US)

(£8 entry, £5 members)

For past guests, click here

For booking information & general enquiries…

Pat Smith   Mick Tems
Telephone 01443 226892   Telephone 01443 201634
Mobile 07989 209824   Mobile 07531 812400
Email (click) Pat Smith   Email (click) Mick Tems