Back in November I sang a few obscure Ceredigion folk songs as part of a live session for the ‘Ambell I Gân’ series on BBC Radio Cymru. The presenter Gwenan Gibbard managed to collect such an eclectic range of songs and tunes from around Wales during the series that Sain Record label have decided to […]
I had a blast in Glasgow in February performing at Celtic Connections festival alongside Kathleen McInnes and Brendan Begley as part of the ‘Mother Tongue’ concert. It was great to meet so many talented musicians and also represent Wales along with six other Welsh artists on the international stage. You can catch the highlights from two special programmes for S4C and BBC Wales here:
👉 S4C: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0blfln5/gwyl-cwlwm-celtaidd
👉 BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0014vbh
I was recently nominated for the Christian Raphael Prize, which is run every year by Cambridge Folk Festival and the inspirational Christian Raphael and its aim is to support emerging folk artists. Due to the old ‘rona, the show took place online this year and so you can watch the whole thing back below. I includes a slew of amazing folk artists including Nick Hart, Burd Ellen and Katherine Priddy. You can still donate to towards the artists here:
Did you know that almost no-one grows Welsh Black Oats anymore?
Why are we so ready to turn our backs on our indigenous seed, which like folk singing, is such a vital part of our rural heritage? It seems like madness to me, especially in a time when the food supply is under such pressure.
It’s #SeedWeek this week and I spent some time with The Gaia Foundation alongside Iwan Evans and Gerald Miles putting together this great little film (which includes some folk singing!) to raise awareness around the issue.
Llafur Ni – Our Grains from The Gaia Foundation on Vimeo.
I’m delighted to say that Dilyn Afon has been included in Glenn Kimpton from Folk Radio’s Top 10 albums of 2020 alongside some other stellar acts. Read and listen to more here:
https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2020/12/glenn-kimptons-top-ten-albums-2020/a
I chatted to Verity Sharp and Radio 4 recently about the folklore and place of the cuckoo in Welsh culture and it’s significance here in the Welsh landscape. You can hear me chatting about its many names and faces and also an acepella rendition of the song ‘Y Bardd A’r Gwcw’ around 3 mins in:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000k99r
I’m chuffed to announce that Dilyn Afon has been shortlisted for Welsh Language Album of the Year at the 2020 Eisteddfod. I’m in some good company too! You can check me out chatting to Gareth Potter about the journey below (sorry no subtitles!)
